Premium
Sexual Justice and the Sceptical Feminist
Author(s) -
SHAW BEVERLEY
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of applied philosophy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.339
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1468-5930
pISSN - 0264-3758
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-5930.1984.tb00191.x
Subject(s) - skepticism , argument (complex analysis) , economic justice , sexual difference , subject (documents) , exposition (narrative) , sociology , epistemology , philosophy , law , psychoanalysis , psychology , political science , literature , art , chemistry , biochemistry , library science , computer science
The article considers various arguments put forward, on the subject of ‘sexual justice’, by Janet Radcliffe Richards in her book, The Sceptical Feminist: a Philosophical Enquiry. These arguments rest upon a version of ‘the difference principle’, and owe much to the exposition of this principle by John Rawls. It is argued that Radcliffe Richards fails to support her argument for sexual justice by reference to the difference principle. Indeed, it is argued that reliance by Radcliffe Richards upon this principle vitiates her advocacy of sexual justice. The article concludes by putting forward an obvious alternative to the difference principle; and with a suggestion as to why Radcliffe Richards fails to acknowledge the strength of this alternative.