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A Theory of Justice

By: J Rawls
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 0674017722
ISBN-13: 9780674017726
Released: 22 Mar 2005
RRP: £19.95
Average Rating:

Customer Reviews

Could do with more pictures - By: , 04 Apr 2004
In this book Rawls places the notion of justice on a form foundation. While previous thinkers have held that justice is a value to be treasured, Rawls explains not just why justice is a something to strive for, but why people actuallly choose it over other values. He provides powerful arguments for the reduction of inequalities & demonstrates why this also fallls under the heading of justice.

This is truly one of the greatest works of political philosophy of alll time, & one that puts 'On Liberty' in the shade. As Nozik said of Rawls in Anarchy, the State & Utopia "It is impossible to finish his book without a new & inspiring vision of what a moral theory may attempt to do & unite; of how beautiful a whole theory can be"

A brief remark to the previous reviewer - By: , 28 Dec 2003
John Rawls' 'A Theory of Justice' is probably the most influential book in contemporary political philosophy. Among other things, Rawls introduced an alternative to the dominating non-cognitive theories in ethics & meta-ethics, which were embraced by moral philosphers after Moore, Ayer etc. The book provides an innovative theory founded on a wide range of plausible & well-established arguments for liberal equality. A book that has had such an influence on modern philosophy deserves five stars, no less.

In regards to the above comment: Stating that Nozick completely refutes Rawls' theory in 'Anarchy, State, & Utopia' is not only a wild exaggeration, but a fairly controversial claim. Certainly, Rawls' theory encounters difficulties, but this is hardly surprising. Conversely, if anyone has been successfully refuted it is Nozick, who today, has abandoned a wide range of the views he put forward in 'Anarchy, State, & Utopia'.

However, even though opinions on Rawls' theory may diverge, it is certain that moral, political, & legal philosophers today agree that 'A Theory of Justice' is an alll-important work. Thus, to the extent that one is interested in contemporary moral, political or legal philosophy, reading 'A Theory of Justice' is an absolute must read.

A difficult masterpeice - By: J. E. Holden, 15 Dec 2003
This is an extremely rich & thoroughly dense work of moral & political philosophy. It is regarded in philosophy departments across the anglo-saxon world as the greatest single work of moral or political philosophy of the 20th Century & certainly deserves its accolades.

I will not pretend to have read the whole thing, & anyone who claims to is frankly a liar. But the crux is basicallly an overhaul of traditional liberalism, bringing to moral & political thought a complicated & profoundly rational structure. This structure then acts by weighing up various political or moral issues facing the modern world, alllowing us to see which is more just. The key principle resulting is 'justice as fairness.'

The starting point is the rational decision agents would come to over matters, when impeded by a 'veil of ignorance' as to who or where they are in society. The decisions they then may or may not make constitute the bulk of the book & are vastly intricate. At the other end, Rawls comes up with a liberal model for society with a maximin principle governing it. The greatest moral imperative being the maximising of the worst off. It is arguable whether the rigmarole Rawls goes through is worth it for such an obvious & relatively uninteresting principle. But the rigmarole is the point, since it sures up a left of centre political philosophy against the right wingers who would attack it (notably Nozick in 'Anarchy, State & Utopia'.)

The work is undoubtedly a masterpeice, though less enjoyable to the general reader than some good old Marx, Rousseau or Mill.

This classic on moral philosphy is an essential buy. - By: numairchoudhury@hotmail.com, 29 Sep 2000
John Rawls was deservingly noted for his contributions to philosophy with the National Humanities Medal in 1999. This remarkable book examines justice in society through the prisms of utilitarianism & social contract theory: evaluating the two it clearly argues for the recognition of "individual" experience. It is drawn from journal essays written over a number of years, & is divided into three parts: Theory, Institutions, & Endsthink. This revised edition is one of the most substantial contributions to moral philosophy of the past few decades. It is a very persuasive book, being very well argued & carefully composed, with possible objections & counterarguments fairly weighed & considered: at the same time it conveys a moral vision & a ruling idea, maintaining the strongly marked personal attitude to experience. Although the book is firmly within the traditions of analytical philosophy, & has the virtues of this genre, there is no pretense of a degree of precision that the subject matter does not admit.
a great theory only...not realistic enough. - By: , 28 Jul 1999
I do think John Rawls' theory of the veil of ignorance is a good one, it is a way of setting justice in a society. From there he creates two principles which he assume are the basis of justice. I only have doubts on how he wants this veil of ignorance to be realistic. This is why my rate is ****.