Impartiality, Neutrality and Justice
Re-Reading Brian Barry's Justice as Impartiality
Edited by Paul Kelly
Brian Barry's Justice as Impartiality confronts issues at the heart of modern political philosophy. This important collection examines various aspects of his argument and expands the discussion beyond the text to explore wider issues at the centre of contemporary debates about the nature and theories of distributive justice. It brings together responses from a wide range of Barry's critics including feminists, utilitarians, mutual advantage theorists, care theorists and anti-contractarians.
Suitable for both undergraduates and academics working in political and legal theory, this text serves as an ideal companion volume to Barry's work. The expansion of each contributor's focus beyond the issues raised by Barry means this text also stands as a contribution to political thought in its own right.
Key Features
- Paperback edition published to meet demand for this book from lecturers teaching political philosophy, ethics, and justice courses
- Includes detailed response to his critics from Brian Barry
- Features contributions from leading international figures in the field including Richard Arneson, David Gauthier, Russell Hardin, Susan Mendus and Albert Weale
- Serves both as a companion to Barry's Justice as Impartiality and as a new contribution to political thought
- Offers an important reply to Barry by David Gauthier in which he defends his mutual advantage theory of morality
1. Rational, Fair and Reasonable (Jonathan Wolff)
2. Impartiality and Liberal Neutrality (Simon Caney)
3. 'What's Wrong in Contractualism?' (Matt Matravers)
4. Taking Utilitarianism Seriously (Paul Kelly)
5. From Contracts to Pluralism (Albert Weale)
6. The Priority of the Right over the Good Rides Again (Richard Arneson)
7. Some Mistakes about Impartiality (Susan Mendus)
8. Impartiality, Care and the Good (Diemut Bubeck)
9. Reasonable Agreement: Political not Normative (Russell Hardin)
10. Mutual Advantage and Impartiality (David Gauthier)
11. Contractual Justice: A Modest Defence (Brian Barry).
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Will be welcomed by students of political theory for providing the oppositional matrix for a second reading of Brian Barry's Justice as Impartiality ... a book whose strength derives not just from the force of the individual essays, but from the manner of their combining to elaborate and challenge a number of the core aspects of Barry's theory ... It is difficult to imagine that future readers of Brian Barry's Justice as Impartiality won't have Impartiality, Neutrality and Justice close to hand. The book is without question therefore a success.
The topics discussed are central to the understanding of impartiality, contractarianism, and justice. All the essays are well written and well argued. Barry's reply very effectively brings together and highlights the key issues. The book is essential reading for those interested in justice as impartiality and related topics.
