These essays in political philosophy by T. M. Scanlon, written between 1969 and 1999, examine the standards by which social and political institutions should be justified and appraised. Scanlon explains how the powers of just institutions are limited by rights such as freedom of expression, and considers why these limits should be respected even when it seems that better results could be achieved by violating them. Other topics which are explored include voluntariness and consent, freedom of expression, tolerance, punishment, and human rights. The collection includes the classic essays 'Preference and Urgency', 'A Theory of Freedom of Expression', and 'Contractualism and Utilitarianism', as well as a number of other essays that have hitherto not been easily accessible. It will be essential reading for all those studying these topics from the perspective of political philosophy, politics, and law.

托馬斯·斯坎倫（Thomas M．Scanlon，1940－）美國著名道德哲學傢，已故美國哲學大師、倫理學巨匠約翰·羅爾斯的得意門生，繼羅爾斯之後道德契約主義的當代代錶人物；曾任哈佛大學哲學係主任、美國哲學會東部分會主席，與托馬斯·內格爾一起創辦瞭著名哲學刊物《哲學與公共事務》（Philosophy and Publk：Af-fairs）並擔任該刊的副主編，現任該刊顧問編輯。