Rethinking Justice: Restoring our Humanity

Publication Type

Book

Year of Publication

2007

Author

Bell, Richard H.

Pages

145

Publisher

Lexington Books

Place Published

Lanham, MD

Language

English

Keywords

affliction (malheur)
colonialism
justice
law
obligations
rights
suffering
Havel, Vaclav

Annotation

There are a number of references to Simone Weil throughout this book. In the first chapter: “The Concept of Justice: Some Recent Perspectives”, Bell briefly compares Weil’s notion of reading to Levinas’ theory of justice. Later in the same chapter he discusses Weil’s reflections on ‘justice, power and rights’ as well as her thoughts on obligations. In the second chapter: “Justice: Human Dignity and Equality”, he presents in some detail, Weil’s writings on colonialism and more briefly on suffering and affliction. In chapter three: “Justice: Mercy and the Cultivation of Humanity”, drawing on the work of Ron Collins, a legal scholar and Finn Nelson, a politic theorist, Bell turns to Weil’s views of law and punishment. Later in the chapter he returns to the subject of obligations, discussing Weil’s views in further depth. Finally, in the seventh and final chapter of the book: “Justice and Spirituality: A Testament to our Humanity”, he compares Weil’s views of spirituality and justice to those of Vaclav Havel.