Abstract

What is just work? Perhaps it would be better to ask whether there is anything just about work, or whether the necessity of work immobilizes considerations of justice. The dissertation claims that considerations about justice do apply in the arena of work, and more specifically argues for the relevance of the category of "fit" in deciding the justice of work. The possibility that work may fit us in an important respect both complements and corrects other familiar standards of evaluation rooted in consent and social contribution. Looking to a wide-range of thinkers from Aristotle to Weber, the dissertation explores several ideals of fit, including perfectionist fit, expressivist fit, and conventional fit, and examines the difficulties both practical and conceptual in realizing these ideals. Even if justice in the most complete sense is beyond reach, the dissertation shows how the category of fit helps reveal the partial justice of work and illuminates how work serves our dignity