Overview

Addressing challenging questions at the intersection of happiness research and theories of justice, this book explores the extent to which redistribution of material goods can promote the happiness of the recipient and which form of redistribution best serves this purpose: state redistribution in the name of social justice or voluntary redistribution driven by philanthropy. The book is an enquiry into a prominent theory at the intersection of the economics of happiness and the philosophy of justice: material resources that a person has but cannot use to further increase his or her own happiness should be redistributed not only for reasons of social justice but also for reasons of formal justice, because they increase the happiness of the taker without diminishing the happiness of the giver. In exploring this theory, the book develops a taxonomy of the various theories of social justice and shows the shortcomings behind the thesis of just happiness. However, the book also shows how the thesis of just happiness can be saved, namely by rehabilitating philanthropy. It is argued that philanthropy is the only known form that can increase the happiness of the taker without diminishing that of the giver. This book will appeal to readers and scholars of philosophy, politics, and economics.

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9781041214762

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Reviews

“Social Justice and Economics of Happiness is an enquiry into an unsaid but nevertheless prominent theory at the intersection of the economics of happiness and the philosophy of justice, which the author sums up as follows. ‘Material resources that a person has but cannot use to further increase his or her own happiness should be redistributed not only for reasons of social justice but may also be redistributed for reasons of formal justice, because they increase the happiness of the taker without diminishing the happiness of the giver.’ From Bouillon's point of view the thesis of just happiness is false. To demonstrate this, he develops a taxonomy of the various theories of social justice and shows the shortcomings that lie behind the thesis of just happiness. He does not leave it at a critique, but also shows how the thesis of just happiness can be saved, namely by rehabilitating philanthropy. For Bouillon, philanthropy is the only known form that can increase the happiness of the taker without diminishing that of the giver.” - Kurt R. Leube, Professor of Economics (Emeritus) and Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University (USA). “Bouillon critically analyses and categorizes the main contributions in “social justice” literature, past and present. Unveiling the theoretical weaknesses of today’s redistribution policies, he concludes that only philanthropy justifies redistribution and guarantees greater happiness for both, takers and givers. Providing a clear and comprehensive taxonomy, Bouillon clarifies the key notions that drive the debate, characterises the differences among the various authors, emphasizes the logical gaps and inconsistencies of past and current theorising and keeps the reader aware of the policymaking implications inherent in social justice theories.” - Enrico Colombatto, Professor emeritus of economics, University of Turin. “Bouillon provides a systematic overview of the theories of social justice up to now according to taxonomy criteria that suit the framework of two modes of the wealth (material goods) redistribution related to the happiness of both, recipient and donor. It is a valuable effort to show that state redistribution schemes are replaceable potentially without negative neighbourhood effects.'' - Professor Jiří Schwarz, President of Anglo-American University, Prague.

Author Information

Hardy Bouillon was born in Trier, Germany, in 1960. He studied philosophy and art history in Albuquerque, Oxford, and Trier, where he completed his doctorate in 1991 and habilitated with a thesis on freedom, liberalism and the welfare state in 1996. Bouillon has written several monographs, including Business Ethics and the Austrian Tradition in Economics (2011), Criticist Philosophy of Science (2024), and Austrian Economics and the Theory of Negative Selection (2025). In addition, he has edited a dozen anthologies, produced breviaries on Popper and Kant and authored more than 180 essays.

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