What Do We Deserve?

Book excerpt: Much of contemporary social and political theory has reduced the concept of desert to a minor role. The work of John Rawls is the prime example. Recently some philosophers have argued that the notion merits a more central place in social and political theory. This reader brings togetheropposing positions and arguments, thus stimulating debate over the meaning and significance of desert in contemporary thought. The book includes eight classical and twenty-two contemporary readings on the concept.