The Routledge Handbook of Non-Ideal Theory

Made popular by John Rawls, ideal theory in political philosophy is concerned with putting preferences and interests to one side to achieve an impartial consensus and to arrive at a just society for all. In recent years, ideal theory has drawn increasing criticism for its idealised picture of political philosophy and its inability to account for the challenges posed by inequalities of, for example, race, gender, and class and by structural injustices stemming from colonialism and imperialism. The Routledge Handbook of Non-Ideal Theory is the first handbook or reference source on this important and fast-growing debate. Comprised of 34 chapters by an international team of contributors, the Handbook is divided into three clear parts: Methodological Challenges Intersections Applied Issues and Contemporary Challenges Within these sections key topics are addressed including: the question of whether non-ideal theory is methodologically linked to ideal theory; its intersection with feminist philosophy, critical race theory, decolonial theory, and critical theory; its characteristic features; the role of the non-ideal theorist; its relation to activism; and its application in the context of disability and health studies, climate justice, global injustices, colonialism, and many more. As well as a comprehensive introduction which provides important background to the debate between ideal and non-ideal theory, the Handbook also features a contribution by the late philosopher Charles Mills on non-ideal theory as ideology. The Routledge Handbook of Non-Ideal Theory is essential reading for students and scholars of political philosophy, ethics, and political theory, and will also be of interest to those studying and researching related subjects such as gender, race, and social justice.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Hilkje C. Hänel and Johanna M. Müller Revisiting “’Ideal Theory’ as Ideology” 15 Years Later Charles W. Mills Part 1: Methodological Challenges 1. Ideal and Non-ideal Theory: Some Basic Distinctions Alexandru Volacu 2. Ideal Theory: An Internal Critique Jeffrey Carroll 3. Beyond Strict Compliance? Unpacking the Notion of Nonideal Theory as Partial Compliance Theory Naima Chahboun 4. Realistic Prescription Michael Goodhart 5. The Realism Trap: Are Feminists and Antiracists Really Nonideal Theorists? Serene J. Khader 6. What is Non-Ideal Theory? The Theoretical is Political Hilkje C. Hänel 7. Radical Rational Reconstruction Carol Hay 8. No Justice without Disability Jessica Begon 9. Discursive Resistance in a Non-Ideal World Nikki Ernst and Deborah Mühlebach 10. Non-Ideal Social Ontology and Emancipatory (or Critical) Social Ontology Katharine Jenkins Part 2: Intersections 11. Non-Ideal Theory and Political Realism Ilaria Cozzaglio and Greta Favara 12. Critical Theory and Non-Ideal Theory Titus Stahl 13. Approaching Global Justice – Ideal and Nonideal Elements in Political Ontology and Political Agency Johanna M. Müller 14. Non-ideal Theory and Global Justice Maeve McKeown 15. Non-ideal Theory and Resistance Candice Delmas 16. Migration and Non-Ideal Theory Alex Sager 17. Ability: The Unexplained Explainer Matthew Koshak and Joel Michael Reynolds 18. Ideal Theory, Literary Theory: Whither Transfeminism Matthew J. Cull 19. Non-ideal Theory and Ignorance Nadja El Kassar 20. Revisiting the Racial Contract: Race, Ignorance, and Non-Ideal Epistemology K. Bailey Thomas 21. Critical Race Structuralism and Non-Ideal Theory Elena Ruíz and Nora Berenstain Part 3: Applied Issues and Contemporary Challenges 22. Social Justice in Times of Crisis Kok-Chor Tan 23. Social Identity at the Margins: A Decolonial Approach Youjin Kong 24. Non-Ideal Theory and Racial Passing: Anything but Iranian Roksana Alavi 25. Theorizing Non-Ideal Agency Caleb Ward 26. Only Human (in the Age of Social Media) Barrett Emerick and Shannon Dea 27. From Predicaments to Pathophobia: Non-ideal Approaches in Philosophy of Illness Ian James Kidd and Havi Carel 28. “The Health System Wasn’t Built for Us”: Medicine and Non-Normative Bodies Lauren Freeman 29. Epistemic Diversity, Ignorance, and Nonideal Philosophy of Science Quill Kukla 30. Evidence in a Non-Ideal World: How Social Distortion Creates Skeptical Potholes Catharine Saint-Croix 31. Intuitions and Deference in Non-Ideal Philosophy of Language Samia Hesni 32. Non-Ideal Theory and Reparative Justice: The Logic of “Indigenous Rights” Rebecca Tsosie 33. Non-Ideal Theory and Critical Prison Studies Madeleine Kenyon and Andrea J. Pitts 34. Non-ideal Climate Justice Fabian Schuppert. Index