1st Edition
Moral Debt Defending a New Account of Reparative Justice
1 Introduction 2 Unpacking the Reparative Justice Debate 3 On Moral Debt -- What Perpetrators of Historical Injustices Owe Their Victims 4 The Bequest Account -- How Descendants of Victims Can Inherit Moral Debt 5 Settling Reparative Responsibilities – The Present and Future 6 The Collective Turn 7 Praxis 8 Conclusion
Biography
Brian Yue Shun Wong is an assistant professor in philosophy at the University of Hong Kong. His research examines the intersection of geopolitics, political philosophy, and technology, with particular interests in authoritarian regimes and historical injustices. Brian is a Rhodes Scholar and graduated with a MA, MPhil, and DPhil all from the University of Oxford.
“Brian Wong’s book offers a spirited discussion of historical debts tied to colonialism. While such debts may not require literal repayment, Wong pushes back against the excuse that colonialism has some positive legacy. This reasoning overlooks the enduring inequities wrought by exploitation. Blending philosophical rigor with deeply personal insight, the book challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about history and responsibility. A compelling and rewarding read by a young scholar, who invites us to reflect on reconciling the past while striving for a just future.”
Prof. Christine Loh, Chief Development Strategist at the Institute for the Environment, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
“Moral Debt is a tightly argued and persuasively written defence of the claim that present generations can bear weighty duties of reparation stemming from past acts of wrongdoing. Brian Wong blends theoretical and empirical material to fine effect: the result is a new account of reparative justice with the resources to deal with many common objections from the worlds of both theory and public policy. A major contribution to the political theory of historic injustice.”
Daniel Butt, Associate Professor, Robert Maxwell Fellow and Tutor in Political Theory, Balliol College, University of Oxford
