Review of Amartya Sen’s Book “The Idea of Justice”

Abstract

Amartya Sen’s “The Idea of Justice” is structured around the idea of a practical and realisation-focused approach to justice, contrasting it with Rawls’ transcendental institutionalism. Sen introduces a pluralistic and comparative framework that emphasises the importance of public reasoning in achieving justice and its application to real-world injustices. He draws on Indian philosophy distinguishing between “niti” (organisational propriety) and “nyaya” (realised justice) to argue that justice should impact people’s lives directly. Sen criticises the parochialism of traditional moral frameworks while advocating for open impartiality influenced by Adam Smith’s “impartial spectator” to include diverse perspectives in the discourse on justice. Additionally, he challenges Rawls’ abstract concepts like the “original position” and “veil of ignorance” as overly conceptual and disconnected from real-world conditions. Sen proposes a practical approach focusing on individuals’ capabilities, meaningful freedoms and expansion of individuals’ opportunities. Further, Sen highlights democracy and public participation, arguing for decision-making processes that include diverse perspectives and are influenced by the public voice. He explores the notions of impartiality and objectivity, differentiating between “closed” and “open” forms of impartiality. Sen argues that open impartiality is crucial for achieving justice in a globalised world emphasising the importance of global dialogue and the inclusion of marginalised voices. He contrasts this with closed impartiality which limits deliberation to specific groups, thereby neglecting broader concerns of global justice. Lastly, Sen critiques traditional justice theories particularly the Rawlsian model for their insularity and failure to incorporate cross-cultural understanding. Through his advocacy for public reasoning, open impartiality and the enhancement of individual capabilities, Sen offers a practical and inclusive framework for addressing real-world injustices.