Taylor and Francis Pelton, L: Frames of Justice

Frames of Justice is an outstanding work that analyes the question of justice and social policy, while simultaneously exploring the notion of desert in religion, philosophy, and legislation - especially within the context of the moral question of the relationship between means and ends - and contrasting it with the principle of life affirmation. Pelton finds that all three frames of justice - group justice, individual desert, and life affirmation -- are reflected in the Bible and, later, the Koran. The prominence of one frame over another at any particular point in history or in a particular geographical location is influenced by a variety of factors, though it is ultimately open to human choice. Pelton compares and contrasts the philosophies of nonviolence and liberalism in regard to the frames, and explores the relationships between principle, sentiment, reason, justice, and policy.