LSE: Public lectures and events Neoliberalism and social justice? Reconciling Adam Smith and John Rawls
May 13, 2025
Nick Cowen, an associate professor at the University of Lincoln, and Paola Romero, a political philosopher at LSE, delve into the complex relationship between neoliberalism and social justice. Cowen discusses insights from his book, highlighting how market economies can foster social equity. They tackle crucial issues such as housing affordability and the interplay of self-interest with social justice. The conversation emphasizes the need for economic liberties as fundamental rights and critiques existing social policies while exploring alternative models for a more equitable society.
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Emotional Weight Shapes Morality
- People's moral motivation is stronger when directly affected rather than distant events.
- Smith shows emotional weight influences moral action more than abstract obligations.
Robustness Over Idealism
- Robustness means designing social policies for varied real human behavior, not idealized cases.
- Sacrificing perfection in policy yields better overall social outcomes across scenarios.
Rawls’ Justice as Institutional Virtue
- Rawls views justice as a virtue of social institutions, requiring stable cooperation among citizens.
- His principles aim for a "realistic utopia" where justice endures beyond mere ideals.
