Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? [Paperback]

I loved this book. It's been a while since I read any philosophy but wanted to get back into it. After buying the book I was a little concerned that starting with a topic as heavy as justice may have been a bad choice. Thankfully, I could not have been more wrong.

From start to finish the arguments are interesting, thought provoking and easily understood. The author's ability to present complexity in simple everyday terms testfies to a lack of pomposity, all to common among academic writers.

When reading Justice, one gets the sense of a writer confident in his own ideas but one who would also welcome scrutiny. A deep desire to get to "the truth" is palpable throughout. This is evident from the detailed and objective attention that Sandel pays to the key theories of Justice before constructing his own argument. Indeed, the bulk of the book is dedicated to considering the strengths and weaknesses of each of the main schools of thought.

After a brief introduction, the book proceeds to consider utilitariasm. It starts with the rather harsh form first propounded by Jeremy Bentham, and gives due credit to John Stuart Mill's attempt to round off some of the harsher edges of this school of thought. Sandel then proceeds to consider the libertarian attack on utilitarianism and clearly and objectively outlines the arguments on both sides.

One of the best features of the book is the author's determination to put these arguments in context and make them relevant to our everyday modern lives. To this end, at Chapter 4, the author discusses several current social questions from the utilitarian and libertarian perspectives. The topics include: the moral arguments around drafting, volunteer armies and the hiring of private military contractors by the state; and the paying of surrogate mothers.

The book then proceeds to tackle Kant's basis of morality and John Rawl's theory of justice before applying these philosophies, as well as those already disussed, to the debate around affirmative action. This structure helps the reader to understand and absorb the ideas discussed with minimal effort. The familiarity of the issues under consideration give the ideas both clarity and meaning.

The book then proceeds to outline an aspect of Aristotle's philosophy, with which the author obviously sympathises - i.e. that questions of justice cannot, and should not, bypass questions of purpose. Sandel argues that the question of whether the actions of a government are just, for example, are not truly meaningful unless we are willing to discuss what purpose government serves. This is a response to the theories, such as those of Kant and Rawls, which contend that justice is something objective which precede purpose - theories which continue to be very influential. The author contends, again in reference to highly relevant and current debates, that despite very wide acceptance, this contention is flawed.

You can make up your own mind as to whether you think the author's theory is more persuasive than the others outlined in his book. There are certainly aspects of the author's argument that raise questions that remain to be answered and others that appear to be inconsistent with some of his own criticisms of other schools of thought. For instance, he acknowledges early in the book the philosophical "truth", first propounded by Hume, that one cannot get an ought from an is. Yet, some of his own arguments point to certain facts of modern society and conclude from them that they have moral signifincance. For instance, he points to our sense that we have moral oligations to our family, friends or community above and beyond those who sit outside those social structures, as evidence that we do have such moral obligations. He may be right, but it is difficult to see how this does not conflict with the longstanding philosophical "truth" that one cannot get an ought from an is.

However, it is not the overwhelming persuasiveness of the argument that is impressive here. It is the author's ability to be lucid, and dare I say, just, in his account of the strengths and weaknesses of all of the main schools of thought, while still reaching conclusions of his own. As such, you may not come away agreeing with the author's particular stance, but you will almost certainly have a better understanding of your own stance on these questions, and of its strengths and limitations.

This is philosophy at its best: engaging, accessible and highly relevant. It's logical stucture and unpretentious prose make this book a highly enjoyable read. But it is the author's fearless exploration of all of the arguments that is most worthy of praise. If you like thinking, you will love this book.

I first heard the author, Michael Sandel on a podcast talking about economic and social ethics. His approach is simple: present the different theories and let you decide for yourself.

This book challenges the way you think about everything! From economics and torture of terrorists, to your everyday life issues. It enhances your emotional and ethical intelligences. It's easy to read and it helps you understand why some politicians and political parties believe in what they do, but also equips you with the framework to challenge these perceptions intelligently.

I dont know how to sell this book to you...but all I can say is it has added to my life by giving me the intellectual framework to assess our world and forced me to make an ethical choice which I struggle to maintain every day (in a good self-growth way).

Perhaps look up Michael Sandel, hear one of his Harvard Lectures and then if you like what you hear, then buy the book.

"The way things are does not determine the way they ought to be." So writes Harvard government and political philosophy professor Michael J. Sandel in this all-encompassing tour through the social, economic and political issues that preoccupy modern society. Seeking to define justice in a just society, Sandel forays into affirmative action, paid militaries, infant surrogacy, free markets and even cannibalism. His reviews of classical and modern philosophies, rightly intended to guide the reader through his exposition, slow down what is otherwise an informative, illuminating and entertaining book. Sandel argues for a "politics of moral engagement" that brings all citizens together in a quest for a just society. getAbstract highly recommends this book to free marketers, libertarians, utilitarians and people of all philosophical and political stripes.