Justice

Nonfiction | Reference/Text Book | Adult | Published in 2005

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 1

Chapters 2-4

Chapters 5-7

Chapters 8-10

Key Figures

Themes

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Themes

Moral Dilemmas Surround Us

Sandel emphasizes, throughout the book, that we face moral dilemmas constantly and apply our views of morality to these dilemmas even if we are not explicit about doing so. He also emphasizes that there are high stakes involved in participating in this process of deliberation. Questions are not “merely philosophical” but rather “lie at the heart of any attempt to reinvigorate political discourse and renew our civic life” (243). Many people may believe that there is little value in studying philosophy because it is theoretical, but throughout the book, Sandel applies the philosophies of ancient and modern philosophers to current issues, such as affirmative action and surrogacy, demonstrating that these beliefs are relevant today and that knowing where particular ideas come from can help us parse through our views on controversial issues, individually and as a society.

Theories of Justice Do Not Parallel Political Divisions

Sandel repeatedly emphasizes that particular theories of justice do not fall neatly along political lines. Even in discussing the first example in the book–the price-gouging debate–Sandel notes that both major political parties rely on theories based on welfare and freedom. Later in the book, he notes that political liberals often take a view consistent with libertarianism on social issues, whereas political conservatives often adopt a laissez-faire stance on economic issues. Thus, egalitarian liberals and libertarians alike typically argue for a “neutral state that respects individual choice” (218). Yet Sandel, whose politics would be characterized as liberal, argues for a state that is not neutral on morality–a view typically associated with conservatives, at least when applied to social issues. Whenever he can, Sandel points out areas on commonality among the traditional political parties, which reinforces the idea that the theories of justice discussed in the book are more fundamental than political divisions and go to the heart of how we view the world.

Narrative Is a Powerful Tool

Sandel’s use of examples throughout the book reinforces his view that “[h]uman beings are storytelling beings.” (221). The power of narrative runs throughout the book in the way that Sandel uses stories, both real and hypothetical, to illustrate his points. Famous hypotheticals like “The Runaway Trolley,” discussed in Chapter 1, allow Sandel to illustrate the ways in which adherents to particular political philosophies address dilemmas differently (21). At the same time, the real-life examples throughout the book give it a narrative flow that would not be achieved by discussing theory alone. In fact, Sandel notes that he deliberately uses “weird” examples, as in Chapter 3, when discussing a story involving cannibalism in the context of a discussion of assisted suicide, because they allow us to assess the logic of an argument “on its own, unclouded by considerations of dignity and compassion” (73). But whether “weird” or more traditional, the power of storytelling is on display throughout the book.