The Idea of JusticeSocial justice: an ideal, forever beyond our grasp; or one of many practical possibilities? More than a matter of intellectual discourse, the idea of justice plays a real role in how - and how well - people live. And in this book the distinguished scholar Amartya Sen offers a powerful critique of the theory of social justice that, in its grip on social and political thinking, has long left practical realities far behind. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - r4hulk - LibraryThingGiving it one star for attacking Rousseau's 'social contract' theory of justice. I couldn't go past a few pages but it seems Sen considers justice unattainable through collectively willed laws, but ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - EmreSevinc - LibraryThingBefore I bought the book I thought that some parts of it could be a difficult read for someone who is not well versed in political theory, philosophy of justice and social choice theory ... Read full review
Contents
An Approach to Justice | 1 |
The Demands of Justice | 29 |
Reason and Objectivity | 31 |
Rawls and Beyond | 52 |
Institutions and Persons | 75 |
Voice and Social Choice | 87 |
Impartiality and Objectivity | 114 |
Closed and Open Impartiality | 124 |
Lives Freedoms and Capabilities | 225 |
Capabilities and Resources | 253 |
Happiness Wellbeing and Capabilities | 269 |
Equality and Liberty | 291 |
Public Reasoning and Democracy | 319 |
Democracy as Public Reason | 321 |
The Practice of Democracy | 338 |
Human Rights and Global Imperatives | 355 |
Forms of Reasoning | 153 |
Position Relevance and Illusion | 155 |
Rationality and Other People | 174 |
Plurality of Impartial Reasons | 194 |
Realizations Consequences and Agency | 208 |
The Materials of Justice | 223 |
Justice and the World | 388 |
Notes | 417 |
451 | |
462 | |
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Common terms and phrases
achieve actual Adam Smith alternative Amartya Amartya Sen argued arguments Arjuna assessment basic behaviour Cambridge University Press capability approach claims Clarendon Press concerns contractarian critical decisions demands democracy Development discussed in Chapter distinction economic equality essay ethical evaluation example famine focal group focus freedom global justice happiness Harvard University Harvard University Press human rights idea identified impartial spectator important income India individual inequalities influence injustice institutions interest invoked involved issue John Rawls judgements justice as fairness Kenneth Arrow liberty lives London ment moral nyaya objectivity one's open impartiality original position outcomes particular person perspective plurality principles of justice priority problem public discussion public reasoning pursuit question rational choice Rawls's Rawlsian relevance Robert Nozick role scrutiny seen self-interest social choice theory social contract social realizations society taking note theory of justice thinking Thomas Nagel transcendental understanding utilitarian Welfare well-being York