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Chapter 7 - Social Justice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2026

Gregg D. Caruso
Affiliation:
Fairfield University, Connecticut
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Summary

This chapter extends the implications of free will skepticism into the broader realm of social justice. While critics argue that justice requires belief in free will and basic desert, the author contends that many compelling theories of justice – such as those of John Rawls, David Hume, and Amartya Sen – do not rest on desert-based foundations. The chapter introduces and defends the capabilities approach, developed by Sen and Martha Nussbaum, as a promising framework for promoting justice without reliance on retributive or meritocratic notions. This approach emphasizes enhancing individuals’ real freedoms and opportunities – what they are actually able to do and be – while acknowledging the profound effects of luck, social structures, and unequal starting points. Free will skepticism reinforces the moral urgency of this view by highlighting the arbitrariness of birth and circumstance in shaping life outcomes. Rather than attributing success or failure to personal choice alone, this perspective demands attention to systemic barriers and privileges. By rejecting the myth of the self-made individual, the chapter makes a strong case for redistributive justice, inclusion, and structural reform. Ultimately, it argues that free will skepticism not only coheres with the pursuit of social justice but provides a compelling moral rationale for greater compassion, equity, and solidarity.

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  • Social Justice
  • Gregg D. Caruso, Fairfield University, Connecticut
  • Book: How to Live Well without Free Will
  • Online publication: 31 July 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009553261.008
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  • Social Justice
  • Gregg D. Caruso, Fairfield University, Connecticut
  • Book: How to Live Well without Free Will
  • Online publication: 31 July 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009553261.008
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Social Justice
  • Gregg D. Caruso, Fairfield University, Connecticut
  • Book: How to Live Well without Free Will
  • Online publication: 31 July 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009553261.008
Available formats
×