Justice and Reciprocity

Andrew Lister's Justice and Reciprocity examines the role and forms of reciprocity within John Rawls's justice as fairness, arguing reciprocity functions as a limiting condition on certain duties rather than merely a psychological fact or foundational duty.

The book situates this claim within a relational view of equality and works out implications for debates over incentives, intergenerational duties, unconditional basic income, and global justice.

Lister distinguishes different senses of reciprocity (strategic, motivational, and normative) and explains when duties should be conditional or unconditional.

Through engagement with Rawls, Hume, and contemporary critics, he defends a nuanced position that preserves important egalitarian commitments while recognizing legitimate limits reciprocity places on demands of justice.

The result rehabilitates reciprocity as compatible with a plausible egalitarian theory without making justice implausibly undemanding.