Spheres of Justice

Spheres of Justice: A Defense of Pluralism and Equality is a 1983 book by the philosopher Michael Walzer.

Spheres of Justice: A Defense of Pluralism and Equality
AuthorMichael Walzer
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SubjectComplex equality
PublisherBasic Books
Publication date
1983
Media typePrint
ISBN0-465-08189-4

Summary

Walzer explores the concept of distributive justice, which concerns the fair allocation of goods and resources in society. He argues against the idea of a single universal principle of justice that can be applied uniformly across all spheres of life. Instead, he suggests that different social goods should be distributed according to different principles, taking into account the specific characteristics and values of each sphere.[1]

Walzer argues in favour of an idea he calls "complex equality", and against the view that goods with different meaning and content can be lumped together into the larger category of primary goods, as is advocated by John Rawls, in his A Theory of Justice (1971). According to Walzer, each sphere has its own internal logic and should be governed by distinct principles of distribution that reflect the particular goods and values at stake.

Reception

Spheres of Justice has, together with Just and Unjust Wars (1977) and Interpretation and Social Criticism (1987), been identified as one of Walzer's most important works by the philosopher Will Kymlicka.[2]

References
  1. "Review: [Untitled]". Jstor. August 1986. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  2. Kymlicka 2005, p. 952.

Bibliography
  • Kymlicka, Will (2005). Honderich, Ted (ed.). The Oxford Companion to Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-926479-1.


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