Social Justice in the Ancient World

by Kaikhosrov D. Irani

This edited collection focuses on the problem of social justice, or, more particularly, how the demand for social justice was articulated and implemented in ancient civilizations, including, from east to west, the Chinese, Indian, Iranian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Israelite, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman. These essays are supplemented by discussions of the functioning of social justice in early and medieval Islam and in the postmedieval Anglo-Saxon world.

The volume contains extended discussions of specific legal regulations, royal edicts, and socioeconomic practices in the various civilizations, and examinations of their social, political, and economic consequences. Written by leading scholars in their respective fields, this volume will be of great interest to researchers dealing with the ancient world and the evolution of political philosophy and legal and economic rights.

Genres: Justice

232 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 1995

About the author

Kaikhosrov D. Irani was a philosopher specializing in Kant and the philosophy of science. Born in Bombay, India, he was the eldest son of Sir Dinshah Irani and Banu Mithibai Sethna. He studied at Princeton University and was a student of Albert Einstein. He taught for 41 years in the philosophy department at City College of New York, where he served as Chairman for nine years. He was a member of the Academy of Science in New York, the American Philosophical Association, the Philosophy of Science Association, and the American Academy of Religion. He was a judge for the Templeton Prize given to individuals for 'affirming life's spiritual dimension.' He was active in New York's Zoroastrian community.