Justice: Classical Foundations and Contemporary Debates

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The moral inquiry into the nature of justice is often marginalized, as contemporary discussions focus primarily on political considerations. Yet, the need to examine the moral framework of justice is fundamental. What is the point of justice, after all, if not to establish a moral framework for political interactions The question resonates especially when recognizing that no monocultures exist over time and space. In examining Platos thoughts on individual and social morality (dikaiosune) and Aristotles focus on individual virtue (arte) and the pursuit of well-being (eudaimonia), the author proffers foundational resources for todays discussions of justice. Moreover, he brings this nexus of thought into conversation with theories that have emerged over the centuries, such as Kants concept of due concern and respect, individual rights and responsibilities as in Hobbes, Locke and J.S. Mill. Thus, he engages contemporary disputes of justice including distributive vs. relational schemes, choice vs. chance considerations, group rights theories, value pluralism, the right vs. the good, as well as international and future justice. His inquiry concludes with the provision of a deontological framework set against a liberal political context, justice as right actions, for further examination of questions of justice.

Reviews

Recent works on the nature of justice have generally been insufficiently attentive to many of the relevant ideas proposed by classical thinkers on the subject. Justice: Classical Foundations and Contemporary Debates offers a welcome corrective to that trend. -- David Shiner, Shimer College

Author Bio

Young Kim is a partner at KYZ Law, PC. He has taught at the University of Colorado School of Law and Northwestern University School of Law.