RAWL’S

THEORY OF JUSTICE
 Scholars agree that the modern period
started with the French Revolution. The
people revolted against the monarchy and
were successful. This event, the French
Revolution resulted to three great ideas:

1 2 3
LIBERTY EQUALITY FRATERNI
TY

JOHN RAWL
 The three were born through rationality. This was the
time when rationality was given importance and
influenced the development of things. Thinkers came
out also during the era like Rene Descartes and others.

 Rationality influenced the way things developed.

Rationality has triggered the invention of gadgets,
technology and advancement was in. Continuing the
direction of development resulted to new ways of
thinking and led to the period of post-modern
period.
1 LIBERT
Y
 LIBERTY
 Liberty is understood in the sense of autonomy, the ability to do what
you want, organize, plan according to what you think make sense for
you. Without which, there can be no liberty.
 Further, autonomy is also understood in the sense of freedom. Freedom
is born from the experience of autonomy. Closely then, liberty and
freedom are deeply rooted in the idea of autonomy which is understood
as independence or the state of being and having the power to do
things according to your choice and this in turn is the essence of liberty.
 Because of this, it resulted to invention, innovation and discovery.
Science then overcame theology. Philosophy and theology tried to be
powerful. As a consequence, this resulted to specialization.
2 EQUALI
TY
 EQUALITY
 It is understood in the sense of having equal value.
 For instance, now philosophy and theology and others are of equal
value. You can now criticize especially religion. However, theology still
enjoyed certain superiority. The church was still too powerful to go
against it.
 Thus, in the work of Rene Descartes, “The One Outside is Given by
God,” is an admittance that one is trying to be careful and avoiding to
be excommunicated by the church
 EQUALITY
 It is understood in the sense of having equal value.
 For instance, now philosophy and theology and others are of equal
value. You can now criticize especially religion. However, theology still
enjoyed certain superiority. The church was still too powerful to go
against it.
 Thus, in the work of Rene Descartes, “The One Outside is Given by
God,” is an admittance that one is trying to be careful and avoiding to
be excommunicated by the church
3 FRATERNI
TY
 FRATERNITY
 Fraternity came out from the idea of independence. But related to
people we do not love at all even those we hate. What is then the sense
of fraternity?
 It came from the idea of equality. It implies the sense of equal value.
Equality in value implies the dignity in each person and that calls for
respect which is a call to fraternity. Brothers are equal.
 ROMANTICISM
 The concept further developed with the advent of the period of romanticism. The new
idea is that you and I are different but we are related. The idea is, we are different but
we can work together and which is why we are related. The big word is unity in
diversity.
 We recognize therefore plurality in our midst. We move in the same space and
therefore we have to learn how to live with one another.
 Now we give importance to the small and ordinary people having done small things
but contribute to achieve greater things. The idea behind was tolerating people with
“small” mind; it was enough that you make sense. The spotlight is no more, as it
were, on the main actors but on the supporting actors.
 In Romanticism, we are more for the difference than similarity, looking for the in-
between and this meant the emancipation and recognition of the lowly and ordinary
people. The teaching is that it allows people to contribute.
JOHN RAWL’S
JUSTICE AS
FAIRNESS
 We need to recognize that there are those
who benefit better in the world. There is
something not equal. The obvious inequality
is there. There is wide gap between the
situation of the poor and the rich. In this
sense, to be fair is to give to the poor.

 The basic concept about justice is the giving

what is due and it is called fairness. This
presupposes that there is something
unequal. Hence, we speak of justice as
fairness.
 JUSTICE AS FAIRNESS
IN A LIBERAL SOCIETY
In a liberal society, we find the following characteristics:
 The liberal society is democratic, tolerant, open and tolerating.
 It shows that the government cares for the people. This government sets
the maximal standard which is the best, arranging society to bring out
what is best in education, business, in the family, in the legislation of
laws or constitution, etc.
 For Rawls, it is the question of providing not just the best but the
morally best for the society. This is justice as fairness in which citizens
are equal within a realistic society where people are free and they have
to be fair to one another. In such a society, people are considerate by
being fair.
 In Rawls’s concept, transformative change in the exercise of justice
should start with the basic structure of society. When this happens there
will be a major change in social institutions like the family, school, etc
giving them what is morally the best.
 This will have effect on their relationship and their life in the society.
There will be more institutions that will be involved. Favorable
conditions should be met to serve the needs of the people. The idealism
is “Gawin nating kaayaaya para sa lahat lalo na sa mga
nangangailangan.”
GUIDING IDEAS: Social cooperation will be necessary to live a decent
life. Cooperation should be fair. Here, both positive and negative theses
are implied because of the assumption that people have been deprived of
the fundamental justice due to them.

■ Negative: Citizens do not deserve to be born rich or poor. Born poor – we do not
deserve that. A lot of people are poor because of unfair set up. This is the reality but this
is not supposed to be how things should be. This inequality should not be the basis for
the services in the society.

■ Positive: Equality is based on reciprocity. Goods should be distributed equally. It is the

guiding idea. Justice requires that any inequality must benefit all citizens especially
those who will have the least.
Timbreza (2007) further explains Rawls Theory of
Justice twofold principles in the following manner:

1. “Equal access to the basic human rights and liberties.

It means that the basic right and liberty of every citizen includes
the right to vote, to be eligible for public office, freedom of
speech and peaceful assembly, liberty of conscience, freedom of
thought, right of ownership and freedom from arbitrary arrest
and seizure...”
Timbreza (2007) further explains Rawls Theory of
Justice twofold principles in the following manner:

2. “Fair equality of opportunity and the equal distribution of

socio-economic inequalities.”
Timbreza explains, that Rawls admits” not everyone in the
society enjoy the same privileges and opportunities or status. But
that he maintains; however, that in a just society, the differences
are tolerable only when they can be shown to benefit everyone,
including and especially those who have the fewest advantages.