Synthesized answer
The central thesis of *The Idea of Justice* by Amartya Sen is that a theory of justice should focus on making judgments about comparative justice rather than striving for a theory of an ideally just state [Passage 2]. Sen argues that in our current world, what is urgently needed is a theory that can determine when and why societies are moving closer to or farther from realizing justice [Passage 2].
Sen presents an alternative approach to mainstream theories of justice, which he believes have taken the wrong direction [Passage 1]. His argument emphasizes the role of public reason in establishing how societies can become less unjust [Passage 1]. He acknowledges that reasoning about justice may not settle all questions even in theory, allowing for choices between different reasonable assessments and competing, well-defended positions [Passage 1]. Sen suggests that such pluralities should be used to construct a theory of justice that incorporates divergent viewpoints and avoids parochialism, while also addressing global injustice [Passage 1, Passage 2].
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
Title: The idea of justice by Amartya Sen Description: Is justice an ideal, forever beyond our grasp, or something that may actually guide our practical decisions and enhance our lives?In this wide-ranging book, Amartya Sen presents an alternative approach to mainstream theories of justice which, despite their many specific achievements have taken us, he argues, in the wrong direction in general.At the heart of Sen's argument is his insistence on the role of public reason in establishing what can make societies less unjust. But it is in the nature of reasoning about justice, argues Sen, that…
rn world must avoid parochialism, and further, address questions of global injustice. The breadth of vision, intellectual acuity and striking humanity of one of the world's leading public intellectuals have never been more clearly shown than in this remarkable book. --- Google Books --- Title: The Idea of Justice by Amartya Sen Description: The most important contribution to the subject since John Rawls' A Theory of Justice. Sen argues that what we urgently need in our troubled world is not a theory of an ideally just state, but a theory that can yield judgments as to comparative justice,…