Aaron John James

This project undertakes a systematic philosophical study of the questions of fairness that arise in the post-war global economy. Placing special emphasis on the multilateral system of international trade, the book-project argues for the central importance of the idea of "structural equity" and defends three substantial fairness principles for the trading system. These three principles have significant consequences for socio-economic inequality, within and across societies. They are also essential for an adequate resolution of "trade related" issues concerning intellectual property, labor, and environmental standards. Working with the social contract tradition, the project develops a "constructivist" methodology as applied to a practically urgent set of moral questions.