William A. Edmundson, “John Rawls: Reticent Socialist” (Cambridge UP, 2017)
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What is the central thesis of William Edmondson’s *John Rawls: Reticent Socialist*?
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Hello, thank you for joining us today for this episode of New Books in Philosophy. I'm Robert Talise, I'm professor of philosophy at Vanderbilt University. I co host the program with Carrie Figner. Carrie is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Iowa. My guest today is William Edmondson. Bill is Regent's Professor of Law and Philosophy at Georgia State University in Atlanta. He works at the intersection of political philosophy and law. and has helped to shape current discussions of political obligation, equality, punishment, and the duty to obey the law. His latest book is newly out in paperback with Cambridge University Press. It is titled John Rawls Reticent Socialist. Now, John Ralls is easily the most celebrated and influential political philosopher of the twentieth century.
And his impact remains remarkably strong today. The central concepts with which his theory of justice begins are now components of the philosophical vernacular. The original position, the veil of ignorance, primary goods, the The two principles of justice, especially the difference principle, these will all be well known to the majority of those listening to this podcast. Yet it's less commonly acknowledged that the apparatus that I've just referenced is but the beginning of his theory and ultimately not its central concern. Throughout his work. Rawls is attempting to address a fundamental philosophical question. Can a society committed to the freedom and equality of its citizens yet arrange social institutions in a way that reliably cultivates within the person's
That are its citizens. Attitudes and dispositions that are required for social justice. In his book, Edmondson argues that Rawls injustice calls for a socialist economic order. Could it be that America's premier political philosopher was a socialist? There's a lot to talk about. But let's begin with our guest. Hello, Bill. Hi Bob. How are you today? Very well. Great. Why don't you start us off by telling us a little bit about yourself? Well,
I uh was born and grew up in uh Birmingham, Alabama, uh growing up in the nineteen fifties and sixties. Um it was an interesting place to to grow up. Uh my dad owned a toy store. that um uh happened to be located near one of the uh federal housing projects. uh occupied almost exc well exclusively by by uh um blacks Uh this was a very segregated city and um Just hanging out at Dad's toy store I got a view of society that was uh to me kind of disturbing. I remember vividly uh once um Uh some black kids uh being asked to leave the store, they've just come in. And um I remember a look I was given By one of the kids. Um Puzzling, why does this kid get to stay? And why do I have to leave?
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the central thesis of William Edmondson’s *John Rawls: Reticent Socialist*?
0:00–7:46
2
How does Edmondson trace his personal journey to discovering Rawls’s theory?
7:46–15:49
3
What does Edmondson identify as the ‘property question’ in Rawls’s later work?
15:49–23:52
4
How does the book reinterpret Rawls’s *Justice as Fairness* to argue for liberal democratic socialism?
23:52–32:41
5
What are the five regime types Rawls distinguishes, and why does he reject two of them?
32:41–39:14
6
How does Edmondson explain Rawls’s concept of ‘fair value of political liberties’?
39:14–47:20
7
Why does Edmondson claim Rawls was ‘reticent’ about his socialist leanings?
47:20–54:18
8
What future research directions does Edmondson suggest for applying Rawls’s ideas today?
54:18–1:04:13
Speakers
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