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Free and Equal
- Author
- Daniel Chandler
- Narrator
- Daniel Chandler
- Publisher
- Penguin Books Ltd
- Publish Date
- 20 April 2023
- Run Time
- 12 hours 20 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
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What to expect
Brought to you by Penguin.
Despite the enormous problems we face and widespread dissatisfaction with the status quo, it's surprisingly hard to find a coherent vision of what a better, fairer society would look like.
Free and Equal provides that vision. In this hugely ambitious and exhilarating debut, philosopher and economist Daniel Chandler argues that the ideas we need are hiding in plain sight, in the work of the twentieth century's greatest political philosopher, John Rawls. Although they have transformed philosophy, his ideas have had little impact on politics - until now. In Free and Equal, Chandler shows us how they offer an intuitive yet powerful framework for addressing the urgent challenges we face, and an unparalleled resource for developing a transformative progressive politics.
Taking Rawls's humane and egalitarian liberalism as his starting point, and drawing on evidence from the social sciences and on inspiring examples from around the world, Chandler builds a careful and ultimately irresistible case for fundamentally re-designing our basic institutions - from how we can protect basic freedoms of speech, religion and sexuality whilst transcending the culture wars, to a completely new way of funding political parties and the media, to an economic agenda that would give everyone a fair share not just of income and wealth, but of power and control, dignity and self-respect.
This is a book brimming with hope and possibility - a much-needed alternative to the cynicism that pervades our politics, setting out a 'realistic utopia' that can galvanise people from all walks of life. Free and Equal has the potential not only to transform contemporary debate, but to offer a touchstone for a modern, egalitarian liberalism for many years to come, cementing Rawls's place in political discourse, and firmly establishing Chandler as a vital new voice for our time.
©2023 Daniel Chandler (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Critics Review
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Can a philosopher help dig us out of the political hole we’re in? In Free and Equal Daniel Chandler makes a robust and inspiring case for the philosophy of John Rawls, dragging his theory of justice down from Harvard’s ivory towers and into the street with the people. In clear and impassioned style he returns Rawls to the centre of the conversation, re-establishing his work as a potential agent of radical – and practicable – change . . . a book that is both intellectually rigorous and full of hope
Zadie Smith
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A beautifully written and compelling argument that Rawlsian political philosophy can heal our broken societies and make us, indeed, free and equal
Sir Angus Deaton, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics
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This is a fantastic book. More than ever, we need philosophers to participate in the public debate about inequality and sustainability. In Free and Equal Daniel Chandler provides us with the moral basis for an ambitious egalitarian agenda, and a roadmap for putting this into practice. It is a must-read!
Thomas Piketty, author of Capital in the 21st Century
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A vigorous case for adopting the liberal political framework laid out by John Rawls. . . . Chandler is a lucid and elegant writer, and there’s an earnest sense of excitement propelling his argument — a belief that Rawls’s framework for thinking through political issues offers a humane way out of the most intractable disputes.
New York Times Book Review
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The most excellent book … substantive and beautifully expressed suggestions for improving almost everything
James O'Brien
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A brilliantly eloquent, incredibly insightful reimagining of liberalism
Owen Jones
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An exceptionally sane, judicious essay on what a viable democracy entails... [Chandler] develops a realistic, humane - and in its way, revolutionary - vision of a society committed to equity, inclusion and accountability. It should become an indispensable tool in political debate in the years ahead
Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury
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So many of the answers to our dilemmas about democracy and inequality can be found in the philosophy of John Rawls. Daniel Chandler brings those answers to life with contemporary evidence and solutions. Read Free and Equal and feel hopeful about the future
Minouche Shafik, President of Columbia University
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Daniel Chandler argues that Rawls’s ideas can help us build a fairer society, from strengthening democracy to tackling inequality. Chandler has an excellent background on the philosophical issues that are central to practical policy making, and given the lucidity and reach of what he writes, this book will meet a very important need
Amartya Sen, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics
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Many of us wonder idly why we can’t live in a kinder world. Daniel Chandler has done us all a significant favour by devising a powerful analysis of exactly why the world is not presently kind and how it might become more so. An inspiring work which returns political philosophy to its rightful position: that of working out how to make things better
Alain de Botton, author of The Consolations of Philosophy
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Daniel Chandler
- Narrator
- Daniel Chandler
- Duration
- 12 hours 20 minutes
- Release Date
- 20 April 2023
- ISBN
- 9780241612170
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Penguin Books Ltd
- Genre
- Social and political philosophy, Economic theory and philosophy, Centrist democratic ideologies, Left-of-centre democratic ideologies
Synopsis
Brought to you by Penguin.Despite the enormous problems we face and widespread dissatisfaction with the status quo, it's surprisingly hard to find a coherent vision of what a better, fairer society would look like.Free and Equal provides that vision. In this hugely ambitious and exhilarating debut, philosopher and economist Daniel Chandler argues that the ideas we need are hiding in plain sight, in the work of the twentieth century's greatest political philosopher, John Rawls. Although they have transformed philosophy, his ideas have had little impact on politics - until now. In Free and Equal, Chandler shows us how they offer an intuitive yet powerful framework for addressing the urgent challenges we face, and an unparalleled resource for developing a transformative progressive politics.Taking Rawls's humane and egalitarian liberalism as his starting point, and drawing on evidence from the social sciences and on inspiring examples from around the world, Chandler builds a careful and ultimately irresistible case for fundamentally re-designing our basic institutions - from how we can protect basic freedoms of speech, religion and sexuality whilst transcending the culture wars, to a completely new way of funding political parties and the media, to an economic agenda that would give everyone a fair share not just of income and wealth, but of power and control, dignity and self-respect.This is a book brimming with hope and possibility - a much-needed alternative to the cynicism that pervades our politics, setting out a 'realistic utopia' that can galvanise people from all walks of life. Free and Equal has the potential not only to transform contemporary debate, but to offer a touchstone for a modern, egalitarian liberalism for many years to come, cementing Rawls's place in political discourse, and firmly establishing Chandler as a vital new voice for our time.©2023 Daniel Chandler (P)2023 Penguin Audio
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