An Atypical Theory of Justice (Routledge Innovations in Political Theory)

What does justice mean for individuals whose cognition diverges from these implicit norms? Can a theory of fairness truly be universal if it fails to account for autism, ADHD, psychopathy, and other forms of neurodiversity?

Palak Singh confronts these questions head-on by exposing the neurotypical biases embedded in liberal theories of justice and proposing a radical alternative: an atypical, neuropluralistic justice. Through a critical engagement with Rawls, Kant, Nussbaum, and feminist and disability theorists, she reveals how psychopathic instrumentalism, autistic rule-based reasoning, and other atypical cognitive profiles disrupt conventional notions of reciprocity, public reason, and moral personhood. Yet rather than dismissing these disruptions as anomalies, Singh reframes them as catalysts for reimagining justice itself.

At its core, this book advances a revised social contract―one where the ‘veil of ignorance’ includes cognitive variation, ensuring principles of fairness are robust across neurotypes. From education to criminal law, it charts a path towards a society where neurodivergent individuals are not merely accommodated but recognized as essential to human flourishing and as equal participants in shaping collective life, arguing for an ‘Atypical Theory’ for ‘atypical minds.’

Timely and provocative, An Atypical Theory of Justice bridges political philosophy, cognitive science, and disability studies to offer a groundbreaking and transformative framework. It argues for a world where justice is measured not by its adherence to a neurotypical standard but by its capacity to embrace the full spectrum of human cognition.

Palak Singh is a scholar working at the intersection of moral-political philosophy, feminism, ethics, and political psychology. Her research critically engages classical and contemporary theories of justice, human nature, and moral responsibility, with a particular focus on the ethical implications of neurodivergence and psychopathy. Through a critical epistemological lens, her work challenges normative frameworks that pathologize difference while obscuring structural violence, aiming instead to reframe questions of justice, autonomy, and agency within marginalized and neurodivergent communities.