In Rethinking Justice, Richard H. Bell lifts up and restores an idea of justice found in classical writers such as Socrates and Seneca as well as in more recent thinkers. Justice, classically, has dealt with righting wrongs and restoring peace to individuals and human communities. We have lost sight of this in our modern political and legal dealings and must find a way to return it to mind and to practice. Each chapter looks at ways to restore such reconciliatory practices to the idea of justice that can be found in our contemporary life and literature and focuses on numerous recent cases of abuse of justice among individuals, groups and nations. Bell approaches justice as a concept that goes hand in hand with compassion, mercy, and trust. Rethinking Justice reminds us that we have an obligation to foster peace, be merciful, and promote reconciliation with our brothers and sisters in humanity.

"Bell has written a fine and, considering the questions raised by America's involvement with Iraq, a rather timely book. Its most appropriate use would be in an introductory undergraduate course." - H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online

"Bell argues quite persuasively that a rights-based conception of justice is intrinisically deficient because it decouples the rights of self-regarding individuals from any prior moral obligations they owe each other. . . . Highly recommended." - CHOICE