Aaron James
Biographic Data
| ID | 3873576 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Aaron James |
| GIVEN NAMES | Aaron |
| FAMILY NAME | James |
| SIGNATURE | JAMES A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of California, Irvine |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5151-5627 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 16 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 72 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 16 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2005 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
La théorie des trous du cul
Money, recognition, and the outer limits of obliviousness
Carillon (genre)
How cynical can ideal theory be
This article characterizes the aims of a practice-based method of justification and explains why its form of “ideal theory” need to only assume that a group of agents “ideationally” endorse an aim or end. Our interpretation of a practice, according to its aims or ends, can thus be quite realistic about the selfish or corrupt motives of any particular agent. This helps to answer “selectorate theory” cynics that view rules (in trade, etc.) as equil…
First Book of Motets for Eight Voices and Organ
An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. Please use the Get access link above for information on how to access this content
Political Constructivism
Why Practices
Pourquoi les pratiques? La méthode de justification fondée sur les pratiques suppose un certain degré de sensibilité aux pratiques sociales. Cela soulève des questions épineuses : les pratiques en question doivent-elles être établies ou au moins réalistes ? Quel degré de « construction » pouvons-nous assumer lorsque nous interprétons leur forme ou leurs buts ? Cet article suggère que les réponses à ces questions peuvent varier en fonction de nos …
Constructing Protagorean Objectivity1
In “Constructing Protagorean Objectivity”, Aaron James defends an objectivist form of constructivism, which hinges on two central views. First, that ideal reasoners will converge on the content of substantive norms; The second consists of three claims: a. that constructivists are capable of accounting for the legitimacy of a demand to justify the norms of rationality, b. that by doing so they will not fall prey to skeptical arguments and c. that …
Contractualism's (Not So) Slippery Slope
Familiar questions about whether or how far to impose risks of harm for social benefit present a fundamental dilemma for contractualist moral theories. If contractualism allows “ ex post ” objections by considering actual outcomes, it becomes difficult to justify the risks created by most public policy, leaving contractualism at odds with moral commonsense in much the way utilitarianism is. But if contractualism instead takes a fully “ ex ante ” …
Fairness in Practice: A Social Contract for a Global Economy
This book argues that the global economy generates significant egalitarian requirements of fairness, independently of humanitarian, human rights, or other justice concerns. Answering both economic and political forms of skepticism about fairness, the book argues that the global economy as we know it is organized by an international social practice in which countries mutually rely upon common markets. This practice of mutual reliance generates sha…
The Significance of Distribution1
Why does it matter, from the point of view of justice, what distributions come about? Scanlon’s moral theory, seen as a theory of justice, has under-appreciated consequences for this question. Distributions, taken as such, cannot then be either just or unjust, since they can be owed only insofar as they reflect the “personal reasons” of different individuals. The significance of distribution lies, not in the impersonal value of a distributional p…
Constructivism about Practical Reasons 1
Philosophers commonly wonder what a constructivist theory as applied to practical reasons might look like. For the methods or procedures of reasoning familiar from moral constructivism do not clearly apply generally, to all practical reasons. The paper argues that procedural specification is not necessary, so long as our aims are not first‐order but explanatory. We can seek to explain how there could be facts of the matter about reasons for actio…
Equality in a Realistic Utopia
Power in Social Organization as the Subject of Justice
The paper suggests that the state is subject to assessment according to principles of social justice because state institutions or practices exercise forms of power over which no particular person has control. This rationale for assessment of social justice equally applies to legally optional or informal social practices. But it does not apply to individual conduct. Indeed, it follows that principles of social justice cannot provide a basis for t…
Distributive Justice without Sovereign Rule: The Case of Trade
Constructing Justice for Existing Practice: Rawls and the Status Quo
Constructing Justice for Existing Practice: Rawls and the Status Quo
Why Practices
Pourquoi les pratiques? La méthode de justification fondée sur les pratiques suppose un certain degré de sensibilité aux pratiques sociales. Cela soulève des questions épineuses : les pratiques en question doivent-elles être établies ou au moins réalistes ? Quel degré de « construction » pouvons-nous assumer lorsque nous interprétons leur forme ou leurs buts ? Cet article suggère que les réponses à ces questions peuvent varier en fonction de nos …
Constructivism about Practical Reasons 1
Philosophers commonly wonder what a constructivist theory as applied to practical reasons might look like. For the methods or procedures of reasoning familiar from moral constructivism do not clearly apply generally, to all practical reasons. The paper argues that procedural specification is not necessary, so long as our aims are not first‐order but explanatory. We can seek to explain how there could be facts of the matter about reasons for actio…
How cynical can ideal theory be
This article characterizes the aims of a practice-based method of justification and explains why its form of “ideal theory” need to only assume that a group of agents “ideationally” endorse an aim or end. Our interpretation of a practice, according to its aims or ends, can thus be quite realistic about the selfish or corrupt motives of any particular agent. This helps to answer “selectorate theory” cynics that view rules (in trade, etc.) as equil…
Power in Social Organization as the Subject of Justice
The paper suggests that the state is subject to assessment according to principles of social justice because state institutions or practices exercise forms of power over which no particular person has control. This rationale for assessment of social justice equally applies to legally optional or informal social practices. But it does not apply to individual conduct. Indeed, it follows that principles of social justice cannot provide a basis for t…
Distributive Justice without Sovereign Rule: The Case of Trade
Constructing Justice for Existing Practice: Rawls and the Status Quo
Equality in a Realistic Utopia
Constructivism about Practical Reasons 1
Philosophers commonly wonder what a constructivist theory as applied to practical reasons might look like. For the methods or procedures of reasoning familiar from moral constructivism do not clearly apply generally, to all practical reasons. The paper argues that procedural specification is not necessary, so long as our aims are not first‐order but explanatory. We can seek to explain how there could be facts of the matter about reasons for actio…
The Significance of Distribution1
Why does it matter, from the point of view of justice, what distributions come about? Scanlon’s moral theory, seen as a theory of justice, has under-appreciated consequences for this question. Distributions, taken as such, cannot then be either just or unjust, since they can be owed only insofar as they reflect the “personal reasons” of different individuals. The significance of distribution lies, not in the impersonal value of a distributional p…
Constructing Protagorean Objectivity1
In “Constructing Protagorean Objectivity”, Aaron James defends an objectivist form of constructivism, which hinges on two central views. First, that ideal reasoners will converge on the content of substantive norms; The second consists of three claims: a. that constructivists are capable of accounting for the legitimacy of a demand to justify the norms of rationality, b. that by doing so they will not fall prey to skeptical arguments and c. that …
Contractualism's (Not So) Slippery Slope
Familiar questions about whether or how far to impose risks of harm for social benefit present a fundamental dilemma for contractualist moral theories. If contractualism allows “ ex post ” objections by considering actual outcomes, it becomes difficult to justify the risks created by most public policy, leaving contractualism at odds with moral commonsense in much the way utilitarianism is. But if contractualism instead takes a fully “ ex ante ” …
Fairness in Practice: A Social Contract for a Global Economy
This book argues that the global economy generates significant egalitarian requirements of fairness, independently of humanitarian, human rights, or other justice concerns. Answering both economic and political forms of skepticism about fairness, the book argues that the global economy as we know it is organized by an international social practice in which countries mutually rely upon common markets. This practice of mutual reliance generates sha…
Political Constructivism
Why Practices
Pourquoi les pratiques? La méthode de justification fondée sur les pratiques suppose un certain degré de sensibilité aux pratiques sociales. Cela soulève des questions épineuses : les pratiques en question doivent-elles être établies ou au moins réalistes ? Quel degré de « construction » pouvons-nous assumer lorsque nous interprétons leur forme ou leurs buts ? Cet article suggère que les réponses à ces questions peuvent varier en fonction de nos …
How cynical can ideal theory be
This article characterizes the aims of a practice-based method of justification and explains why its form of “ideal theory” need to only assume that a group of agents “ideationally” endorse an aim or end. Our interpretation of a practice, according to its aims or ends, can thus be quite realistic about the selfish or corrupt motives of any particular agent. This helps to answer “selectorate theory” cynics that view rules (in trade, etc.) as equil…
First Book of Motets for Eight Voices and Organ
An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. Please use the Get access link above for information on how to access this content
Carillon (genre)
Money, recognition, and the outer limits of obliviousness
La théorie des trous du cul
Philosophy (12 works) · Political science (12 works) · Epistemology (11 works) · Law (11 works) · Sociology (8 works) · Law and economics (7 works) · Philosophical Ethics and Theory (7 works) · Political Philosophy and Ethics (7 works) · Computer Science (5 works) · Economic Justice (4 works)