New Books Network Gina Schouten, "The Anatomy of Justice" (Oxford UP, 2024)
Feb 1, 2026
Gina Schouten, philosophy professor and author of The Anatomy of Justice, reorients liberal egalitarianism toward an “anatomy of justice.” She explains evaluative discernment over prescriptive principles. Short takes cover mutual respect as a thick political ideal, how relational and distributive equality fit together, and how the anatomy guides judgments about institutions, culture, and individual responsibility.
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From High School Volunteer To Philosopher
- Gina Schouten recounts growing up in a working-class Indianapolis suburb and working with English language learners in high school.
- That early experience steered her from social work toward philosophy while keeping a helping-profession ethos in her academic work.
Prioritize Evaluative Discernment
- Schouten argues liberal egalitarian theory should prioritize evaluative discernment over prescribing principles.
- The "anatomy of justice" lists and ranks justice-relevant values to guide both theory and non-ideal practice.
Mutual Respect As Substantive Anchor
- Mutual respect anchors Schouten's political liberalism and sets substantive legitimacy demands.
- Taken robustly, mutual respect entails stringent requirements for gender, racial, and distributive equality beyond some Rawlsian readings.
