Significance of concept of Justice for political theroy

Justice is the core concern of political theory. Theories of justice are actually dealing with public policy.
The main concern of public policy is to determine the principles of distribution of allocation of goods,
honours positions, awards etc. Every political system has to be based on some or the idea of justice.
Political philosophy began with the exploration of the idea of justice. Plato has dealt with the issue in
comprehensive manner in his dialogue the republic whose subtitle is concerning justice. later on other
political scholars gave their views on justice. e.g. Aristotle gave the theory of propotionate justice.
Lassical liberals made made “survival of the fittest’ as principle of justice Utilatirians made greatest
happiness of the greatest number as a principle of Publlic Policy. Socialist talk about equality of
outcomes.

Thus the issue of justice has been a matter of debate. The debate was restarted in contemporary times
with the publication of Rawls ‘A theory of justice”.

Significance of Rawls as a thinker

Rowl’s work on justice is considered as the work signifying the rebirth on revival of political theory.

Rowl’s like Plato is a refrence point for other later political theorists whether it is Nozib on AMartya Sen.
None of the contemporary thinker can overlook the contribution of Rowl’s. He may agree with Rawls or
disagree with but Rawls will always be the reference point.

Perspective of Rowl as a thinker

He belongs to the school of social liberalism (causative Liberalism) he supports welfare functions of the
state. Some scholars also also put Rawls under the category of ‘Egalitarion School’ for his concern for
the ‘least advantaged sections of the society’

Rawls is also one of the most criticized thinker. He has been criticized by almost all school of thoughts
by Socials, by Libertarians, by Communitarians, by Social Liberals as well as by feminists. He himself was
a Social Liberal

Purpose of Rawl as a thinker

Rawls has produced three major works dealing with the issue of justice

1 Theory of justice

2 Political Liberalism- in response to the criticism by communitarian to his book “theory of

justice”

3 The fear of people- this bookd He has written to answer some of the questions posed by scholar to
the relevance of his theory Justice in the context of emergence of global civil society.
His major work is “ATheory of Justice- in this work the objective of Rawls is to produce a‘ grand theory of
Justice”. A project of similar ambition like that of Plato’s Republic. Like Plato he also wanted to give the
ultimate idea of justice. The principle of justice which will be absolute/ uncontested/ universal which
can be applied in any society.(unfortunately his idea was ciontested by all school of thoughts)

His approach to devlop the grand theory of justice.

He describes his theory of justice as “purly procedural rather than “ ‘ End State Theory” . End State
theory is theory that is biased in favour of a particular idea or the theory whose end is predetermined
.To Rawls Marxism is an end state theory biased in the favour of the working classes. Rawls was also
critical of the Utilitarian theory of justice which he believes is against human dignity. Rawls theory of
Justice is actually written in context of his satisfaction with the existing theories of Justice. He was
specifically critical of Utilitarian as well as socialist theory of justice (Benthom).

UTilitarinism neglects human dignity and Marxism neglects individuality.. According to Rawls any
theory of justice has to be based on in viability of individual or human being. . It means any theory of
justice cannot be violation of individuality of man as well as human dignity. Neither liberty nor dignity
should be compromised.

He suggests his theory as purely procedural and the principles of justice which can be accepted as
universal should be the product of most rational procedure. (Deliberative democracy)

According to critiques his theory is not procedural and is also an end state theory bisased in favour of
certain value system positive liberalism

Procedure adoted by Rawls to derive at ultimate principles of Justice. Rawls consider that the procedure
of social contract is the most rational procedure to derive the principle of justice.

Why Social contract

Social contract is supposed to be the rational process because it points towards the participation of the
people in deriving the principle of Justice. POJ are not imposed on people from outside or by any
external authority. It has based on the assumption that man enters into contract as “ rational
negotiator”. Rational negotiator implies that man understands his self interest and is taking decisions in
his self interest. Thus for Rawls any ultimate idea of justice is based on ‘ Public reasoning ‘ Thus inRawls
theory we find the mechanism of deliberative democracy POJ are the product of free deleberations
among the rational negotiators.

Sources of influence on Rawls.

John Lorks - for his advocacy of rights besides methodology of social contract

Immanuel Kant – for his concern of human dignity

The procedure of Social Contract.

Original Position- Original position can be taken as parallel to the state of nature adopted by classicl
social contract theorists. It is a stage before the contract.

Features of original position

It is an imaginary situation

Every person is a rational negotiator Every person is behind “veil of ignorance”

Veil of ignorance means man is unaware of his own qualities, his strength and weakness and strength
and weakness of others. People also do not have the clear view on the nature of future society means
which quality or talent will be rewarded most or will not be rewarded once society is formed.

Although man is behind the voi but he is aware of basic human psychology. Man has some vague idea
about the things that are valued more than the others.

Social Contract.

Social Contract. He uses the term reflexive equilibrium and not the term social contract .

Reflexive equilibrium

RE is a stage after contract . There was one equilibrium before contract and one after contract. It is
reflexive because it is based on human psychology. There is a connection between the two
equilibriums. So in the process of Social Contract, rational negotiators behind the VOI enters into a
social contract, derives the principles of justice and reach to a new equilibrium.

According to Rawls P OJ should be based on following principles

Ist principle Rawls first rational principle is Maximum equal liberty- maximum freedom to explore
one’s talent.

Man as a rational negotiator wold like to have maximum liberty to explore his talent.

2nd principle- equality of opportunity- Everyone should have equality of opportunity.

3rd principle the difference principle- it permits diverging from strict equality Where you will not go for
equality but accept the difference. U will also accept the diif principle because you may think in a future
society it may happen that u appear to be the least advantaged person so in a future society should
provide something for your survival. It is sence of insecurity will make u agree the principle of
difference.

Diifference principle suggests that rational negotiator will agree for differenctial treatment in favour of
the least advantaged section of the society. He will support the welfare provisions because he may
require some type of social security or safety net to meet the situation if he happens to be the least
advantaged in future. A rational
Rationally any principle of justice has to be based on three principles of justice

Thus for Rawls above three principles in lexical order, specific order of preference. Specific order of pref
are the most rational it means liberty has priority over equality of opportunity and equality of
opportunity has priority over the difference principle. Giving priority to the third principle over ist and
2nd is not considered as rational by Rawls.

Similarly neglect of 3rd and consideration of only Ist and 2nd principle is also not considered rational by
Rawls.

According to Rawls Justice is fairness. It should be fair to all, fair to the most talented and fair to the
least advantaged also. Neither the talented, hardworkers should suffer nor the least advantaged should
suffer. A system should be created, where you care for the least advantaged as well as maximum
opportunities to the hardworkers and talented ones.

Rawl firmly holds that justice as fairness is the most egalitarian, and also the most reasonable,
interpretation of the fundamental concepts of liberalism. He argues that justice as fairness provides a
superior understanding of justice to that of the dominant tradition in modern political thought
utilitarianism.

End State theory never contested theory it is purely procedural and not an end state theory What does
rowl’s mean do you think he could produce theory or not. What are the end principles of justice he is
not telling but in the process of adopting the the he says that let us enter into a debate whatever
everyone will find logical will become principle of justice.