Elements of a critical theory of justice / Gustavo Pereira.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Pereira, Gustavo.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Social justice.

Physical Description:

viii, 246 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Baringstoke, Hampshire ; New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.

Summary:

The capacity to take part in dialogues and justify one's positions constitutes the normative core of critical social justice. This capacity is what makes citizens autonomous, so ensuring it is the main objective of a critical theory of justice. For citizens to become the true masters of their lives it is necessary to transform social structures and relations as well as to counteract the effects of capitalist dynamics on one's reflective capacities. To effectively intervene in real societies it is necessary to have the normative guidance provided by the principles and normative concepts presented in this book, which emerge from the constructive question: 'what are the necessary conditions for someone to be able to take part as an autonomous subject in decision making processes?' Book jacket.

Contents:

Part I Models of Justice and Recognition 9

I.1 Justice and Recognition: Two Models 11

I.1.1 Fraser's approach 12

I.1.2 Honneth's approach: struggle for recognition 17

I.2 Evaluation of Fraser's and Honneth's Normative Approaches 23

I.2.1 Limitations of Fraser's approach 25

I.2.2 Limitations of Honneth's approach 32

I.2.3 Towards a critical theory of justice 37

Part II Foundations for a Critical Theory of Justice and Reciprocal Recognition Autonomy 43

II.1 Foundation and Application 45

II.1.1 The renewal of critical theory 45

II.1.2 Recognition and foundation 50

II.1.3 Foundation and application 55

II.2 Reciprocal Recognition Autonomy as a Decentred Autonomy 61

II.2.1 Reciprocal recognition autonomy as a decentred autonomy 62

II.2.2 Autonomy and self-reflection 68

II.2.3 Differentiated autonomy and the requirements of practical contexts 75

Part III Scope, Metrics and Principles of Justice 81

III.1 Conceptions of Justice and Reciprocal Recognition Autonomy 83

III.1.1 Conceptions and metrics of justice 83

III.1.2 Capabilities and primary goods: the best metric for a critical theory of justice 93

III.2 Principles and Scope of Justice 103

III.2.1 What a theory of social justice provides 104

III.2.2 Principles of justice 114

III.2.3 Choice and responsibility 123

III.3 The Background of Application 137

III.3.1 Reified concepts 138

III.3.2 Multidimensional concepts: common understandings and poverty 144

III.3.3 Pathological instrumental reason 153

III.3.4 Egalitarian ethos 164

Part IV Democratic Ethical Life and Its Promotion 173

IV.1 Democratic Ethical Life and Public Reason 175

IV.1.1 Democratic ethical life 176

IV.1.2 Public reason and civic equality 178

IV.1.3 Public reason and deliberation 182

IV.1.4 Dissent as virtuous behaviour 186

IV.2 Narrative, Emotions and Democratic Ethical Life 194

IV.2.1 The social function of narratives 194

IV.2.2 Rational emotions 199

IV.2.3 Educable emotions 203

IV.2.4 Compassion and public reason 207.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1137263377

9781137263377

OCLC:

820434217