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John Rawls: His Life and Theory of Justice
John Rawls was one of the most important political philosophers of our time, and promises to be an enduring figure over the coming decades. His Theory of Justice (1971) has had a profound impact across philosophy, politics, law, and economics. Nonetheless Rawlsian theory is not easy to understand, particularly for beginners, and his writing can be dense and forbidding. Thomas Pogge's short introduction (originally published in German) gives a thorough and concise presentation of the main outlines of Rawls's theory, introduces biographical information when necessary, and draws links between the Rawlsian enterprise and other important positions in moral and political philosophy.
228 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2006
About the author
Thomas W. Pogge
53 books32 followersThomas Winfried Menko Pogge is a German philosopher and currently Leitner Professor of Philosophy and International Affairs at Yale University and Research Director at the Centre for the Study of Mind in Nature, University of Oslo. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University with a dissertation supervised by John Rawls. Pogge serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs journal, Ethics & International Affairs, and is an Ethics and Debt Project participant.
Pogge has written extensively on political philosophy, especially on Rawls, Immanuel Kant, cosmopolitanism, and, more recently, extreme poverty. His book World Poverty and Human Rights is widely regarded as one of the most important works on global justice. Pogge's work has been, along with that of Charles Beitz, one of the most important in the "first wave" of work on global justice. Yet what makes Pogge's contribution to the debate on global justice and the eradication of world poverty original is his emphasis on negative duties rather than on the positive duties stressed by Beitz. According to Pogge, the global rich have a stringent duty of justice to take decisive steps toward the eradication of global poverty primarily because they have violated the negative duty not to contribute to the imposition of a global institutional order that foreseeably and avoidably renders the basic socioeconomic rights of other human beings unfulfilled, and not because they must honor a positive duty to help others in need when they can at little cost to themselves. Recently, Pogge's argument has been aggressively critiqued by Joshua Cohen
Pogge has written extensively on political philosophy, especially on Rawls, Immanuel Kant, cosmopolitanism, and, more recently, extreme poverty. His book World Poverty and Human Rights is widely regarded as one of the most important works on global justice. Pogge's work has been, along with that of Charles Beitz, one of the most important in the "first wave" of work on global justice. Yet what makes Pogge's contribution to the debate on global justice and the eradication of world poverty original is his emphasis on negative duties rather than on the positive duties stressed by Beitz. According to Pogge, the global rich have a stringent duty of justice to take decisive steps toward the eradication of global poverty primarily because they have violated the negative duty not to contribute to the imposition of a global institutional order that foreseeably and avoidably renders the basic socioeconomic rights of other human beings unfulfilled, and not because they must honor a positive duty to help others in need when they can at little cost to themselves. Recently, Pogge's argument has been aggressively critiqued by Joshua Cohen
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 8, 2016
This was an interesting book that I didn't have the prerequisites to read. It is a book about Rawls' works and the author isn't afraid to pass judgment upon Rawls' ideas. I had hoped that I would understand it more than I did but I can speak to a few parallel issues that are a bit to the point anyway.
My favorite part of the book was learning how he came about this theory: He began with a utilitarian philosophical foundation with which he disagreed and than worked his hardest to put it in its best light, and then attempted to improve upon it. This method, in and of itself, deserves more adherents than we have today.
All in all Rawls' theory of justice was too idealistic for me to get too wrapped up in. He begins by telling us that the theory applies to a community that probably never has and never will exist, i.e. a self-contained society. I understand the need to keep things simple so as not to over complicate a theory, but for me, this amounts to a thought experiment that I have a difficult time appreciating. Some thought experiments are too far afield from reality to be of any use except as an exercise in intellectual gymnastics whereas some are founded within reality, and can be extremely helpful. Some, like this one teeter upon a fulcrum which I can't quite focus. Having said all this, I'm sure I'll ponder upon these ideas for a long time. Challenging but worth the read.
My favorite part of the book was learning how he came about this theory: He began with a utilitarian philosophical foundation with which he disagreed and than worked his hardest to put it in its best light, and then attempted to improve upon it. This method, in and of itself, deserves more adherents than we have today.
All in all Rawls' theory of justice was too idealistic for me to get too wrapped up in. He begins by telling us that the theory applies to a community that probably never has and never will exist, i.e. a self-contained society. I understand the need to keep things simple so as not to over complicate a theory, but for me, this amounts to a thought experiment that I have a difficult time appreciating. Some thought experiments are too far afield from reality to be of any use except as an exercise in intellectual gymnastics whereas some are founded within reality, and can be extremely helpful. Some, like this one teeter upon a fulcrum which I can't quite focus. Having said all this, I'm sure I'll ponder upon these ideas for a long time. Challenging but worth the read.
September 23, 2018
This is an amazing book, an extremely clear brief explanation of the main points of Rawls's theory. Pogge tries his best to both challenge and defend his mentor, a mindset characteristic to contemporary academic philosophy.
The reader should be cautioned, therefore, that this little book is by no means written in an introductory style and might prove a little challenging for those who lack the requisite familiarity with this type of writing.
The reader should be cautioned, therefore, that this little book is by no means written in an introductory style and might prove a little challenging for those who lack the requisite familiarity with this type of writing.
March 16, 2023
A helpful look into a modern giant. Rawls like all the classical political theorists asked questions centered around justice and how to order society for the common good. He was post-modern in that he conceived that justice must be independent of any comprehensive moral or religious framework and centered on fairness. Pogge does a very good job of introducing us to Rawls the man and his theory of justice that has ongoing influence in egalitarian society today.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews