Justice, Equal Opportunity And The Family

A brief survey and brilliant critique of contemporary liberal political theory. Fishkin raises provocative issues, locates them within a broader theoretical framework, and demonstrates a urgent need for liberals to set certain priorities.

Three common assumptions of both liberal theory and political debate are the autonomy of the family, the principle of merit, and equality of life chances. Fishkin argues that even under the best conditions, commitment to any two of these principles precludes the third.