Events

Rethinking John Rawls and justice

Hosted by the Hayek Programme in Economics and Liberal Political Economy

In-person and online public event (Auditorium, Centre Building)

Speaker

Dr Christopher Freiman

Dr Christopher Freiman

Chair

Professor Sir Tim Besley

Professor Sir Tim Besley

Curious about how free markets and social justice intersect? Join us for an engaging lecture by Christopher Freiman, author of the new book Unequivocal Justice.

Freiman offers a rethinking of dominant political philosophies and challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding liberal egalitarianism and free-market regimes. Freiman’s work highlights the importance of non-ideal theory, focusing on the real-world applications of political principles rather than abstract ideals. He argues that traditional political theories often assume a perfect society, which skews their conclusions. By examining political liberty, economic sufficiency, fair opportunity, and social equality under realistic conditions, Freiman provides a fresh perspective on achieving justice in an imperfect world. This lecture is essential for anyone interested in the practical implications of political theory and the pursuit of social justice.

Meet our speaker and chair

Christopher Freiman is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the College of William & Mary. He is a graduate of Duke University (B.A. in Philosophy) and the University of Arizona (M.A., Ph.D. in Philosophy). He is the author of Unequivocal Justice and Why It’s OK to Ignore Politics as well as numerous articles and book chapters. Dr Freiman's research interests include democratic theory, distributive justice, and immigration.

Tim Besley is School Professor of Economics and Political Science and W. Arthur Lewis Professor of Development Economics in the Department of Economics at LSE. He is also a member of the National Infrastructure Commission. He is a Fellow of the Econometric Society and British Academy and a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Economic Association and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His main research interests are in political economy and development.

More about this event

This event will be available to watch on LSE Live. LSE Live is the new home for our live streams, allowing you to tune in and join the global debate at LSE, wherever you are in the world. If you can't attend live, a video will be made available shortly afterwards on LSE's YouTube channel.

Modern economic thinking needs to reaffirm and engage with sound Hayekian ideas in this age of global interconnectedness, when the world is coming to grips with multitude of challenges, including global pandemic, climate change, social inequities and inequalities, and politico-media complex. This can only be achieved through fostering dialogue among stakeholders, which include researchers, policymakers, experts, and key decision-makers. The Hayek Programme in Economics and Liberal Political Economy at LSE provides a space where this dialogue can happen. This programme aims to contribute to the research and public debate suited to the demands of 21st Century.

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This public event is free and open to all. This event will be a hybrid event, with an in-person audience and an online audience. 

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For the online event: Registration for this event will open in the first half of January.

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