Capitalism and Justice: Envisioning Social and Economic Fairness [Paperback]

John Isbister (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2001

* Challenges readers to think creatively about the meaning of justice and how it can work towards social and economic fairness within the boundaries of capitalism.
* A provocative and thoughtful call to action
* Ideal for students of political science, economics, ethics, international relations and public policy

The capitalist economic system now dominates the world, but how fully does it take justice into account? John Isbister takes a practical approach to some of the most important questions about economic and social justice: How does a vast disparity of incomes from rich to poor correlate to social justice? Should inheritances be abolished? What commitment should a rich country like the United States make to foreign aid?

Editorial Reviews

Review

Effectively outlines some major clashes and sites of contestation between capitalism and justice. -- Chloe Frommer, in Labour, Capital and Society, Vol. 34 No. 2

About the Author

John Isbister is Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. He was raised in Ottawa, and studied history and economics as an undergraduate at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. After working with Operation Crossroads Africa in Senegal in 1962, he decided to pursue the study of economic development in low-income countries. He received his doctorate in economics from Princeton University in 1969, then joined the Economics Department of the University of California, Santa Cruz, as a founding fellow of Merrill College, a liberal-arts college which concentrates on the study of the third world. From 1984 to 1999 he was the Provost of Merrill College.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Kumarian Press (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156549122X
• ISBN-13: 978-1565491229
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #801,154 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent piece of work., April 17, 2006

By 

N. J. Edelman "www.njedelman.com" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Capitalism and Justice: Envisioning Social and Economic Fairness (Paperback)

John Isbister hits the nail head-on in his text "Capitalism and Justice: Envisioning Social and Economic Fairness," with the example he gives immediately at the start of chapter one:

"The little red hen finds some grains of wheat in the farmyard. She asks the other animals-the cat, the rat, and the pig-who would like to help her plant the grains, the reap the harvest, then carry the wheat to the mill for grinding into flour, and then bake the flour into bread. `Not I,' says each of the animals, each time it is asked. Finally, when the bread is baked, the little red hen asks who would like to help her eat it, and the cat, the rat, and the pig all volunteer. The little red hen declines their help and eats the bread herself."