50 pages • 1 hour read
John RawlsJustice as Fairness: A Restatement
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2001A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Justice as Fairness: A Restatement by John Rawls revises his earlier work, A Theory of Justice, to outline principles for a politically liberal society based on justice, rationality, and reasonable pluralism. Rawls argues for a society structured on equal basic liberties and benefits for the least advantaged, using the hypothetical "original position" to ensure fairness. The text discusses implementing these principles through institutions like property-owning democracy or liberal socialism, emphasizing a constitutional democracy and the family unit to prepare future citizens.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Justice as Fairness by John Rawls garners significant praise for its comprehensive and accessible articulation of Rawls's influential philosophy. Critics laud its clarity and structured approach, making complex ideas understandable. Some find it overly theoretical and occasionally dense, but it remains highly regarded for thoughtful insights into political theory.
Who Should Read Justice as Fairness?
A reader who would enjoy Justice as Fairness by John Rawls is likely interested in political philosophy, ethics, and social theory. They may appreciate the thorough argumentation and theoretical depth similar to works like A Theory of Justice by Rawls himself or Robert Nozick's Anarchy, State, and Utopia.