Product Description

This book continues and revises the ideas of justice as fairness that John Rawls presented in A Theory of Justice but changes its philosophical interpretation in a fundamental way. That previous work assumed what Rawls calls a "well-ordered society," one that is stable and relatively homogenous in its basic moral beliefs and in which there is broad agreement about what constitutes the good life. Yet in modern democratic society a plurality of incompatible and irreconcilable doctrines -- religious, philosophical, and moral -- coexist within the framework of democratic institutions. Recognizing this as a permanent condition of democracy, Rawls asks how a stable and just society of free and equal citizens can live in concord when divided by reasonable but incompatible doctrines?This edition includes the essay "The Idea of Public Reason Revisited," which outlines Rawls' plans to revise Political Liberalism, which were cut short by his death. "An extraordinary well-reasoned commentary on A Theory of Justice...a decisive turn towards political philosophy." -- Times Literary Supplement

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #257055 in Books
• Published on: 2005-04-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 576 pages

Review
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About the Author
The late John Rawls was professor emeritus of philosophy at Harvard University. His other books include The Law of Peoples with "The Idea of Public Reason Revisited" and Justice as Fairness: A Restatement.Martha Nussbaum is Ernest Freund Distinguished Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago. She is the author of many books, including Sex and Social Justice, Love's Knowledge, and Hiding from Humanity.

Customer Reviews

Theories of Justice
Rawls' 1971 'A Theory of Justice' changed 20th century political thought. This book modifies his initial discussion somewhat, partly in light of criticism. For example, he no longer describes a social contract between 'heads of households' and makes a more explicit attempt to include women.

The centre of his argument, however, is that a stable society needs a reasonable 'overlapping consenses' on values. He puts forward an argument for justice that is 'political, not metaphysical' and argues for state neutrality between competing conceptions of the good (rejecting his 'comprehensive doctrine').

Any follow-up to A Theory of Justice from Rawls is bound to be important and influential, and for that reason I recommend it. I only give 3* because I didn't find it as interesting as A Theory of Justice or think it corrected all the faults with his system. Indeed his notion of a neutral political liberalism seems as flawed as his Original Position.

Liberalism never stands still
Rawls attempts to find a single point of measurement for liberalism in this book. But unless we have the room or time to have a proper debate this book should only be reviewed in light of the contribution it makes.

A theory of justice set the scene for a liberal revival in 70's but this book is about reflecting on the criticisms he received and incorporating them once agian into a logical and systematic progression of thoguht. The failrue of some is to think that this is supposed to BE Liberalism - this misses the point all liberal thinkers are merely contributions to a ever modified debate. A more radical view would be to counter the notion of progressive history and suggest that this firmly shifts the basis for Liberal thoguht.

This book is imperotant becasue it allows Liberalism to carry on - We have this much to be thankful for.