John Rawls: Debating the Major Questions

John Rawls is widely considered one of the most important political philosophers of the 20th century, and his highly original and influential works play a central role in contemporary philosophical debates.

This collection of original essays explores the outpouring of scholarship and debate inspired by Rawls's political philosophy. Given the vastness of this scholarship, this volume aims to provide inroads to its central themes and preoccupations. The volume is divided into ten parts, exploring ten distinct questions, for example: Can Rawls's conception of public reason offer determinate answers to major questions of justice? Is ideal theory useful or relevant to resolving issues of justice in the nonideal world? Are libertarians correct to criticize Rawls's work for failing to prioritize economic liberty? When institutions aim at equality, what is it that they should seek to equalize--primary goods, capabilities, or welfare? For each question, there is an introductory essay, providing an overview of the relevant arguments from Rawls's work and the historical contours of the debate that ensued. Each introductory essay is followed by two essays written by scholars who take opposing positions, which move the discussion forward in a fruitful way.

This volume provides readers with clear and in-depth explication of Rawls's arguments, the most important critical dialogue generated in response to those arguments, and the dialogue's significance to contemporary politics.

Jon Mandle is Professor of Philosophy at SUNY Albany. He has published widely on political philosophy and John Rawls in particular, including co-editing The Cambridge Rawls Lexicon (with David Reidy, Cambridge 2015), and the Blackwell Companion to Rawls (with David Reidy, Blackwell 2014), as well as authoring three monographs: Rawls a Theory of Justice: An Introduction (Cambridge 2009), Global Justice (Polity 2006) and What's Left of Liberalism?: An Interpretation and Defense of Justice as Fairness (Lexington Books 2000).

Sarah Roberts-Cady is a Professor of Philosophy at Fort Lewis College. Her research on ethics and political philosophy has been featured in Journal of Social Philosophy, International Journal of Applied Philosophy, Philosophy Today, and Politics and the Life Sciences.