Vulnerability and Relational Equality
Will be published approx. on 28. February 2026
Book
Hardback
280 pages
978-1-009-37985-4 (ISBN)
Description
How should we conceive of the vulnerability which we all experience, and what import does it have for how we think of equality as a political ideal? How should the state express equal respect for its citizens in light of our common vulnerability, and the heightened vulnerability experienced by some citizens? What does it mean for us to treat each other as equals in light of the inevitable dependencies and vulnerabilities which colour our relationship with each other? This volume offers the first systematic exploration of the relationship between two increasingly central concepts in political and moral philosophy and theory, namely vulnerability and relational equality, with essays presenting a range of current philosophical perspectives on the pressing practical question of how to conceive of equality within society in light of vulnerability. It will be valuable for readers interested in political philosophy and theory, ethics, public policy and philosophy of law.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
577 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-009-37985-4 (9781009379854)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Content
Introduction Costanza Porro and Christine Straehle; Part I. Conceptions of Vulnerability and Relational Equality: 1. Thomas Hobbes, vulnerability, and relational equality Daniel Engster; 2. Distributive and relational vulnerability: a thick dispositional analysis Natalie Stoljar; 3. Epistemological vulnerability, autonomy, and relational equality Christine Straehle; 4. Vulnerability, risk and relational equality Costanza Porro; Part II. Vulnerability, Relational Equality and Society: 5. Vulnerability, domination, and the conditions of equality Alexander Bryan; 6. Asymmetric vulnerability without subordination: reconciling value-enabling vulnerability with relational equality Daniel Sharp; 7. Interactional equality Kimberley Brownlee; 8. The acknowledgement of vulnerability as a condition of relational equality Marie Garrau; Part III. Vulnerability, Relational Equality and the State: 9. Vulnerability, expressive disrespect, and presumptive distrust: a case of institutional injustice Catriona Mackenzie; 10. Paternalism and relational equality - responses to older people's vulnerability Susan Dodds; 11. Relational equality and vulnerability to social disrespect Giacomo Floris; Bibliography; Index.