Rethinking John Rawls and justice

Christopher Freiman (West Virginia University)

Monday 24 March 2025 18:30 - 20:00

This event is both online and in person

CBG, Centre Building, LSE, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE

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About this event

What does justice require in practice, not just in theory? Join us for a lecture by 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. Professor 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.

Meet our speaker and chair

Christopher Freiman currently is Professor of General Business at West Virginia University. He was previously an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the College of William & 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. Professor Freiman's research interests include democratic theory, distributive justice, and immigration.

Paul Kelly (@PjThinker) is Professor of Political Theory at LSE and a former Pro-Director of the School. He is the author and editor of sixteen books and edited collections and published numerous scholarly articles. His interests range across political theory and philosophy and the history of thought. He has edited and co-edited the Journals Utilitas and Political Studies and cofounded Political Studies Review. His most recent books are Political Thinkers (with David Boucher), Conflict, War and Revolution, and he is currently working on a book entitled Against Post Liberalism.

Find out more on the LSE events pages.

For further information please contact Lubala Chibwe, by email: l.chibwe@lse.ac.uk.

This event will take place in CBG, Centre Building, LSE, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE.

The building is labelled CBG on the map.