Social Justice and the Indian Rope Trick

Book excerpt: "The author challenges what many of today's social and political philosophers widely accept: that social injustice is identified with inequality and social justice with equality. Rather, Jasay argues that justice preempts so-called social justice, so any attempt to adorn equality in the robes of social justice is an illusion, a sleight of hand, 'much as the Indian rope in the notorious trick is made to stand up skyward on its own.' The fifteen articles in this collection include both published and unpublished papers written over the years 2008 to 2012."--from publisher description.