In Sensible Judgement

Taking its bearings from classic texts including Plato, Kant, Hegel and Arendt this thoughtful and intriguing book provides philosophical reflection on what it is to judge and what judgement achieves alongside, and sometimes in competition with, thinking and willing. Opening with the landmark Mabo High Court case in Australia and with detailed reference to other significant debates of judgement of the twentieth century Max Deutscher seeks to explore and explain approaches to the concepts of what is good, right and legal. Describing a connection between reason and grounds intrinsic to judgement he analyses and explores the tendency towards absolutism that displaces proper judgement. By weaving concrete instances of judgement with philosophical thought Deutscher provides a fascinating phenomenology of practices of judgement that should appeal to all readers with an interest in legal, philosophical and political thought.

Max Deutscher is Emeritus Professor and Honorary Research Associate at Macquarie University, Australia and Honorary Professor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland, Australia. In his work on personal and political judgment, memory and thinking, he uses the resources of European philosophy from Kant to Derrida while continuing to draw upon varied traditions of analytical philosophy.