John Rawls is widely regarded as one of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth century, and his work has permanently shaped the nature and terms of moral and political philosophy, deploying a robust and specialized vocabulary that reaches beyond philosophy to political science, economics, sociology, and law. This volume is a complete and accessible guide to Rawls' vocabulary, with over 200 alphabetical encyclopaedic entries written by the world's leading Rawls scholars. From 'basic structure' to 'burdened society', from 'Sidgwick' to 'strains of commitment', and from 'Nash point' to 'natural duties', the volume covers the entirety of Rawls' central ideas and terminology, with illuminating detail and careful cross-referencing. It will be an essential resource for students and scholars of Rawls, as well as for other readers in political philosophy, ethics, political science, sociology, international relations and law.

Winner, 2016 Choice Outstanding Academic Title

'Rawls' political philosophy evolved over more than 50 years, and he left us with an extremely rich and complex body of work. With more than 200 entries - from abortion to Wittgenstein - this volume is a really useful resource for finding one's way through the full range of his thinking.'

Adam Swift - University of Warwick

'The Cambridge Rawls Lexicon will prove an ideal companion to anyone writing on any topic in political philosophy today … an outstanding collection, both useful and enjoyable to read.'

Source: Political Studies Review