This article advances a methodological framework for field-based political philosophy that integrates ethnographic inquiry with normative theorising on socioeconomic injustice. Empirically, it draws on qualitative research with individuals reliant on cash in an increasingly digitalised economy, a context in which infrastructural reforms disproportionately disadvantage socially marginalised groups. The approach is characterised by (i) epistemic recognition of lived experience as a source of normative insight, (ii) critical interrogation of social norms and problem representations associated with digitalisation, and (iii) a commitment to addressing epistemic injustice within philosophical practice itself. We argue that grounding normative theory in subordinated perspectives enhances both the conceptual adequacy of theories of justice and their public relevance. Finally, we reflect on the ethical challenges of research communication aimed at societal impact, emphasising risks of affect-driven “politics of pity” and the importance of maintaining analytical integrity in public engagement.
