Justice for Here and Now

by James P. Sterba

• ISBN13: 9780521621885
• ISBN10: 0521621887
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1998-05-28
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book conveys the breadth and interconnectedness of questions of justice - a rarity in contemporary moral and political philosophy. James P. Sterba argues that a minimal notion of rationality requires morality, and that a minimal libertarian morality requires the welfare and equal opportunity endorsee by welfare liberals and the equality endorsed by socialists, as well as a full feminist agenda. Feminist, racial, homosexual, and multicultural justice, are also shown to be mutually supporting. The author further shows the compatibility between anthropocentric and biocentric environmental ethics, as between just war and pacifist theories. Finally, he spells out when normal politics, legal protest, civil disobedience, revolutionary action, and criminal disobedience are morally permitted by justice for here and now. This highly original and potentially controversial book is ideal for courses in moral and political philosophy, applied ethics, women's studies, environmental studies, and peace studies.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
1 A Peacemaking Way of Doing Philosophy	1	(13)
2 From Rationality to Morality	14	(27)
I The Implausibility of Moral Relativism	14	(3)
II Recent Attempts to Ground Morality on Rationality	17	(4)
III A Non-Question-Begging Justification of Morality	21	(11)
IV Objections Large and Small	32	(9)
3 From Liberty to Equality	41	(36)
I Spencerian and Lockean Libertarians	42	(2)
II Spencerian Libertarians and the Problem of Conflict	44	(9)
III Lockean Libertarians and the Problem of Conflict	53	(3)
IV Distant Peoples and Future Generations	56	(4)
V A Right to Equal Opportunity	60	(6)
VI Libertarian Objections	66	(11)
4 From Equality to Feminism	77	(24)
I The Ideal of a Gender-free or Androgynous Society	77	(4)
II From Equality to Androgyny	81	(1)
III Feminist Objections	82	(4)
IV Practical Applications	86	(15)
5 From Feminism to Multiculturalism	101	(24)
I The Theoretical Connection	101	(3)
II Racism and Sexism	104	(8)
III Heterosexism	112	(4)
IV Eurocentrism and Multiculturalism	116	(7)
V The Practical Connection	123	(2)
6 From Anthropocentrism to Nonanthropocentrism	125	(26)
I Nonanthropocentrism	125	(6)
II Individualism and Holism	131	(3)
III Anthropocentrism	134	(3)
IV Objective and Subjective Value Theory	137	(3)
V Environmental Racism	140	(4)
VI Objections and Responses	144	(7)
7 From Just War Theory to Pacifism	151	(21)
I Just War Theory and Pacifism	151	(3)
II The Intentioned/Foreseen Distinction	154	(3)
III Just Cause and Just Means	157	(6)
IV Further Objections	163	(9)
8 Conclusion: Justice for Here and Now	172	(11)
Notes	183	(48)
Bibliography	231	(13)
Index	244