Abstract

One of the tasks of a theory of justice is to define which agents ought to implement the demands of justice. One issue is whether in each and every of our private decisions, distributive justice considerations should be factored in. The question arises for our decisions as professionals too, as part of a division of distributive labour. Here, we are more specifically interested in whether lawyers, in their capacity, have duties of distributive justice. Addressing this question requires at least three steps. First, we need to identify typical ways in which taking distributive justice into account would make a difference in their practice. Second, we have to look at arguments that potentially allow lawyers to restrict the types of ethical considerations that they should take into consideration when defending their clients. One example is whether in their relationship to truth-seeking and truth-telling, they are allowed to act in ways that would otherwise be considered immoral for ordinary citizens. Could similar arguments (if any) apply to distributive duties? Third, we have to look at how duties of justice differ from plain moral duties and look at arguments such that duties of justice would apply to individuals or professionals, beyond e.g. the Rawlsian basic structure. I will try to provide some indications of where navigating through these three fields potentially brings us.

About the speaker

Axel Gosseries is FNRS Research Professor at UCLouvain. He holds degrees in Law, including an LL.M. in Environmental Law (SOAS, 1996) and a PhD. in Philosophy (UCLouvain, 2000).

His research currently focuses on the institutional division of distributive duties and on climate and intergenerational justice. He is the author of three books, including What is Intergenerational Justice? (Polity, 2023) and La justice climatique (PUF, 2024, with P. André). He also edited five books, including Ageing without Ageism? (OUP, 2023, with G. Bognar) and Institutions for Future Generations (OUP, 2016, with I. Gonzalez-Ricoy). For more information on his publications, check his Google Scholar page.

At UCLouvain, he has exercised various responsibilities. Currently, he is President (elected) of the Research Institute of Philosophy (ISP, 2023-26) and Head of the PPE Program (2019-2025). His core affiliation has always remained the Hoover Chair.

He has extensive international experience, both in teaching and research. He has taught at 19 higher education institutions abroad, including recently at U. Milano (Italy), U. Minho (Portugal), U. Oviedo (Spain), UNIBUC (Romania), YSU (Armenia), U. Bergen (Norway) and U. Graz (Austria). He is also the co-organizer of the Georgian PhD. Summerschool in Ethics and Political Philosophy. He has spent significant research time at various institutions, including ICUB (Bucharest), ISCTE and ICS (Lisbon), AIAS (Aarhus), the Institute for Future Studies (Stockholm), the Czech Academy of Science (Prague), IISJ (Oñati), the Social Justice Initiative (Melbourne), the Program in Ethics and Health (Harvard), NHH (Bergen), Collegium Budapest, CREUM (Montreal), OCEES (Oxford) and the RSSS (Canberra).

He has extensive international experience, both in teaching and research. He has taught at 19 higher education institutions abroad, including recently at U. Milano (Italy), U. Minho (Portugal), U. Oviedo (Spain), UNIBUC (Romania), YSU (Armenia), U. Bergen (Norway) and U. Graz (Austria). He is also the co-organizer of the Georgian PhD. Summerschool in Ethics and Political Philosophy. He has spent significant research time at various institutions, including ICUB (Bucharest), ISCTE and ICS (Lisbon), AIAS (Aarhus), the Institute for Future Studies (Stockholm), the Czech Academy of Science (Prague), IISJ (Oñati), the Social Justice Initiative (Melbourne), the Program in Ethics and Health (Harvard), NHH (Bergen), Collegium Budapest, CREUM (Montreal), OCEES (Oxford) and the RSSS (Canberra).

Practicalities

This event will take place in a hybrid format and will be held at REC A (Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, 1018 WV Amsterdam) and online. Please register below. Drinks will be afterwards at CREA.