A Non-Social Theory of Social Justice: A Critical Review of the Book Rethinking Social Justice’

Saeedi, Ali

doi:10.30465/crtls.2025.49510.2852

A Non-Social Theory of Social Justice: A Critical Review of the Book Rethinking Social Justice’

Document Type : Research

Author

Ali Saeedi

Assistant Professor of Islamic Economics, Qom University, Qom, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30465/crtls.2025.49510.2852

Abstract

‘Rethinking Social Justice’ emphasizes the intrinsicality of the moral value of justice and its precedence over other social values. The book's primary focus is on the conceptualization, reasons, and necessity of social justice without addressing the howness of the subject. This omission can be seen as a major flaw, for many justice-oriented challenges and conflicts arise in its howness. A major part of the book is devouted to reporting different theories of justice that are irrelevant to the Islamic theory of social justice. The book requires some Islamic humanities besides Sharia law and Fiqh to explain and implement justice. However, he does not go further to explain the relationship between the two. Reducing justice to a certain value alongside other values requires broader criteria to resolve conflicts between it and other values. This contradicts the book’s claim of justice as being comprehensive and absolute. Furthermore, the issues of social justice addressed by the book are not so much "social" in their nature but just "theoretical" and "mental" aspects. However, this book can be used to teach and familiarize students and teachers with certain theoretical challenges.

Keywords

Social Justice

Shariah

Islamic Humanities

Social Values

Moral Values

Subjects

Economy

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