Distributive Justice: The Right and Wrong of Our Present Distribution of Wealth

"Distributive Justice: The Right and Wrong of Our Present Distribution of Wealth" by John A. Ryan is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. The book focuses on the moral and ethical aspects of wealth distribution, specifically examining the processes by which wealth is distributed among four main classes: landowners, capitalists, business people, and laborers. It presents a critical analysis of current economic systems and aims to propose reforms for a more equitable distribution of wealth. The opening of the work introduces the concept of distributive justice, emphasizing its focus on incomes rather than possessions, and highlights the complexity of moral considerations in the distribution of economic resources. Ryan references a historical context of industrial unrest attributed to inequitable wealth distribution and outlines the book's intent to systematically address the justice associated with how industrial outputs are divided among different social classes. By framing distributive justice as a pressing social issue, Ryan sets the stage for an in-depth exploration of moral claims, rights, and the ethical underpinnings of various economic theories and practices throughout the book. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

John Augustine Ryan (1869–1945) was an American Catholic priest who was a noted moral theologian and advocate of social justice. Ryan lived during a decisive moment in the development of Catholic social teaching within the United States. The largest influx of immigrants in America's history, the emancipation of American slaves, and the Industrial Revolution had produced a new social climate in the early twentieth century, and the Catholic Church faced increasing pressure to take a stance on questions of social reform.