Foreword Introduction: A Theory of Justice as an Analysis of Society Part I. Historical Background: The Right to Freedom 1. Negative Freedom and the Social Contract 2. Reflexive Freedom and Its Conception of Justice 3. Social Freedom and the Doctrine of Ethical Life Transition: The Idea of Democratic Ethical Life Part II. The Possibility of Freedom 4. Legal Freedom 5. Moral Freedom Part III. The Reality of Freedom 6. Social Freedom Notes Index

Freedom's Right is a stunningly ambitious exploration of the ways in which major institutions of Western society promote freedom and at the same time present obstacles to its realization. Axel Honneth defends a compelling conception of social freedom grounded in mutual recognition, which he employs both to comprehend contemporary social reality and to reveal its deficiencies. Characterized by an extraordinary richness of detail, this book's aim is a provocative mix of reconciliation and critique. No social philosopher has attempted a project of this scope since Hegel composed the Philosophy of Right almost two hundred years ago. -- Frederick Neuhouser, Barnard College Breaking with the dominant style of contemporary political philosophy, Axel Honneth demonstrates how fruitful it can be to develop a theory of social justice not simply by appealing to common beliefs and intuitions but more fundamentally by understanding the characteristic institutions of modern society. Freedom's Right is a brilliant work by one of today's leading philosophers. -- Charles Larmore, Brown University Honneth has provided us with a central reference point for future debates on the nature of modernity, freedom, justice, and the social world. -- Arto Laitinen Review of Politics

Axel Honneth constructs a theory of justice derived from the normative claims of Western liberal-democratic societies and anchored in morally legitimate laws and institutionally established practices. Honneth's paradigm demonstrates how concrete social spheres generate the principles of individual freedom and a standard for what is just. Using social analysis to re-found a more grounded theory of justice, he argues that all crucial actionsrequire the realization of a particular aspect of individual freedom.