Rethinking John Rawls and Justice (LSE Public Event)

T﻿he LSE Hayek Program is an academic initiative housed at STICERD, London School of Economics. It aims to explore, directly or indirectly, the intellectual contributions of liberal political economist F.A. Hayek. These include individualism and economic freedom, the nature and future of liberal democracy, social justice and welfare, decision-making under radical uncertainty, macroeconomic management, the rule of law and justice, and many other topics.W﻿e typically run online webinars and various in-person public events. These events are open to all members of the public and no prior knowledge is required. All webinars will be recorded for later access and publishedhere.

LSE Hayek Program

What's the relevance of philosopher John Rawls' thinking on contemporary justice?

Hong Kong Theatre, London School of Economics

What does justice require in practice, not just in theory? Join us at the London School of Economics for a lecture by Prof. Christopher Freiman, author of Unequivocal Justice, as he offers a rethinking of dominant political philosophies and challenges conventional views on liberal egalitarianism and free-market regimes. Freiman’s work highlights the importance of non-ideal theory, focusing on the practical application of political principles in the complexities of the real world, rather than abstract ideals.Through a careful examination of principles like political liberty, economic sufficiency, fair opportunity, and social equality, he questions whether top-down solutions are always the best way to address injustice. Drawing on insights from public choice theory and political psychology, Freiman suggests that a more modest role for the state might better align with the goals of liberal egalitarianism by minimizing the risks of political capture and inefficiency.This lecture provides a fresh perspective on achieving justice in an imperfect world, offering a constructive critique of traditional approaches while engaging with the shared goal of advancing fairness and equality. It will appeal to anyone interested in the practical implications of political theory, the challenges of governance, and the pursuit of social justice in modern society. Details:Hong Kong Theatre, Clement House, London School of Economics6.30-8pmCampus map <a href="https://www.lse.ac.uk/lse-information/campus-map" title="https://www.lse.ac.uk/lse-information/campus-map" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">here</a> About the speakerChristopher Freiman currently is a Professor of General Business at West Virginia University. He was previously an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the College of William &amp; Mary. He is a graduate of Duke University (B.A. in Philosophy) and the University of Arizona (M.A., Ph.D. in Philosophy). He is the author of Unequivocal Justice and Why It’s OK to Ignore Politics as well as numerous articles and book chapters. Dr Freiman's research interests include democratic theory, distributive justice, and immigration.*Entry for this event is on a first come first served basis on the day of the event.