The book makes no lesser claim than to redefine the philosophical discourse on justice as it has been conducted in Europe since Anaximander. It defends the possibility of scientific critique of law and state against positivism and functionalism. Höffe aims to continue the political project of modernity, the legitimization of human rights and their state guarantee, using rational means—while simultaneously rehabilitating the classical theory of political justice as seen in Plato and Aristotle. Finally, he seeks to surpass the new American social philosophy with its own game and action-theoretical approaches. Ludwig Siep articulated the philosophical program of this central and influential book, which is now considered a classic of political philosophy. The revised and edited version.