Beyond Justice as Fairness: Rethinking Rawls from a Cross-Cultural Perspective

(Paperback)

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Beyond Justice as Fairness: Rethinking Rawls from a Cross-Cultural Perspective, by Paul Nnodim, explores the three foundational topics in Rawlss theories of justicesocial justice, multiculturalism, and global justicewhile deconstructing ideas of democratic citizenship, public reason, and liberal individualism latent in Rawlss treatment of these subjects to uncover their cultural and historical underpinnings. Furthermore, it investigates whether these ideas are compatible with the concept of the person in a non-Western context.

Reviews

Beyond Justice as Fairness is a pedagogical gem. Nnodim articulates the key ideas of John Rawlss theory of justice in an accessible way that all readers will appreciate. Nnodim identifies the nuances and trajectories of those ideas throughout Rawlss major works and gives attention to the ways in which themes of justice, freedom, and equality are contrasted in classical liberalism and the Rawlsian model. Noting how Rawlss political liberalism differs from comprehensive liberalism, the author navigates the dilemmas of multiculturalism and the plurality of values by focusing on humans' shared political endeavors. Among Nnodim's noteworthy contributions is his application of Rawlss notion of justice as fairness in contexts Rawls may not have foreseen. The final chapter offers a cross-cultural, philosophical analysis of justice and its relation to personhood in Igbo culture. This rich book will be valuable to those interested in human rights and global justice, democracy and citizenship, and individualism and social justice. Those studying philosophy, political science, peace and justice studies, or Africana studies will want this volume. Essential.

* Choice *

Beyond Justice as Fairness serves as a helpful introduction to Rawls's complicated thought for those who want to see the forest in the midst of Rawls's very difficult trees. Nnodim emphasizes the fact that Rawlsian political liberalism is a type of multiculturalism and also fosters a multireligious society. There is much on the positive side to recommend this book, including a discussion of the role of natural rights and duties in Rawlss view, in addition to the more famous treatment of social contract theory.

* Journal of Church and State *

This book is a brilliant achievement on several levels: a crystal-clear exposition of Rawlss theories of justice, a generous critique and reinterpretation that helps us understand the latent assumptions animating justice as fairness, and, finally, an original and imaginative bridging of the gap between Rawlss thesis and non-Western conceptions of personhood. This book will be invaluable to students trying to understand Rawls as well as to scholars concerned with the scope and coherence of his arguments.

-- Nir Eisikovits, University of Massachusetts

Lucid, clear, and accessible, this book is a tour de force. Not only does Nnodim make a complex philosopher legible to both specialized and lay readers, but his rereading of Rawlsian philosophy is both original and transformative. Nnodim points out the limitations of Rawlss ideas about the incompatibility of non-Western concepts of personhood with liberal individualism and democratic citizenship. Nnodim draws on Igbo notions of personhood to demonstrate how Rawlss idea of justice as fairness has applications beyond the borders of the Western world. Nnodims book presents a strikingly original take on Rawls and his philosophy beyond its predominantly Western-centric interpretations. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand Rawlss relevance in contexts other than the United States and Europe.

-- Brahim El Guabli, Williams College

Cross-cultural study of philosophy is gradually gaining interest, but it has yet to command attention in academia. By engaging Rawls from the perspective of Igbo indigenous thought and culture, Nnodim demonstrates his mastery of Rawlsian justice as fairness beyond the pages of Rawlss writing to understanding the broader convergence of thought patterns and worldviews and the implications of Rawlss theory for the organization of human society. This is an important work that points to a new direction in philosophy.

-- Austin Okigbo, University of Colorado

This book is a lucid and engaging expos, as well as a credible extension of Rawlss Theory of Justice. Its a great pedagogical resource.

-- Kenneth Amaeshi, University of Edinburgh

Author Bio

Paul Nnodim is professor of philosophy at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.