What's Life of Liberalism?: An Interpretation and Defense of Justice As Fairness (Paperback)

by Jon Mandle (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The left's reluctance to embrace political liberalism is based, in part, on the persistent misunderstandings of justice as fairness. In "What's Left of Liberalism?" Jon Mandle provides a systematic overview of the theory, discussing its basic structure and describing the models of society and the person, as well as the idea of public reason, that it supports. Mandle also considers the challenges posed to political liberalism by communitarianism and postmodernism, offering critiques of theorists such as Edmund Burke, Michael Oakeshott, and Roger Scruton; and Jacques Derrida, Richard Rorty, and Michel Foucault. Scholars will find Mandle's arguments thought-provoking, while students will find his clarification of Rawls a useful supplement to the original texts.

About the Author
Jon Mandle is Associate Professor of Philosophy at SUNY-Albany. He has widely published on John Rawls and the theory of justice as fairness.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Lexington Books (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0739101048
• ISBN-13: 978-0739101049
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,265,368 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stealing a march on Marx, March 25, 2005

By	John C. Landon "nemonemini" (New York City) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The work of Rawls is a thriving academic specialty,but his reputation in the broader spectrum of liberal or other opinion is problematical, with too many negative verdicts of various kinds pronounced on his work by archaic liberal fanatics and others. In one way this is merely a sign of conservative ideology, but from another direction the left has proven incapable of cutting through its own jargon long enough to appreciate the rich explorations initiated by Theory of Justice. This very cogent exposition of the major themes of Rawls' seminal work speaks to the left's recalcitrance and embarks on a detailed look at the major themes,ending with a challenge to postmodern meanderings and its inability to produce a viable liberal or any other coherent view of political philosophy. Cheerful and engaging work, that might poke leftist prejudice a bit. The first book I read was the critique of Wolff, a fascinating work, but it left me complacently critical. This book jolts you into seeing that while many sermonize on utopian themes, Rawls actually rolled up his sleeves and tried to repair basic Enlightenment liberalism with a brilliant descendant of the long lost contract theories.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clearing up Confussion About Rawls, April 18, 2000

By A Customer

This book is an excellent elucidation of Rawls's "justice as fairness". Mandle deals with the fundamental misconceptions that many encounter when reading Rawls, as is clear by the secondary literature on justice as fairness. I recommend this book to anyone having trouble understanding Rawls's position and anyone interested in political philosophy.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! A clear political discussion., April 28, 2000

By A Customer

Mandle explains Rawls, but even more important he shows how Rawls is relevant to today's progressives. Rejecting communitarian and post-modern rhetoric, Mandle explains how Rawls' radically democratic political views can work today.