Pizhuhish nāmah-i intiqādī-i mutūn va barnāmah hā-yi ̒ulūm-i insāni (Critical Studies in Texts & Programs of Human Sciences)

Justice as neutrality (Review and critique of "A Theory of Justice ")

Document Type : Research

Author

Mohammad Shojaiyan
Abstract
John Rawls with the publication of "A Theory of Justice" is well known as one of the most important political philosophers of the twentieth century. In A Theory of Justice, Rawls argues for two basic principles of justice as are applicable for all human societies considering their moral diversity. Rawls's theory of justice that is embodied in these principles, in fact, defines justice in relation to the liberty and preserves justice on the basis of the value of liberty. He adopted a liberal approach to justice. This theory has been criticized by both liberals and anti-liberals. Robert Nozick is one of the foremost critics of the liberal approach. He believes that Rawl's theory of justice entails the continual intervention in the affairs relating to individuals and constant violations of individual freedoms. Anti-liberal communitarians were the most important critics of the theory of justice those who believe that this theory does not provide a proper understanding of society and individual. Rawls liberalism considers society as a common threat to attain individual interests and individual, in his view, is abstracted from the social relations, while this is the ends, purposes and the participations of individuals in various societies that determine their identity and position and give particular moral features to individuals' life. Communitarians believe Rawls's theory of justice requires an exact conception of the individual and his fundamental features. This makes one of the most central Rawl's claims, i.e., the fairness of his justice principles indefensible.

Keywords

Keywords:Liberalism
Liberty
Justice
John Rawls

Subjects

منابع
Christian,Thomas and Christman ,Jon (Editors)(2009).Contemporary Debats in Political Philosophy.  Wilry _Blackwell.
Compbell,Tom(2001). Justice. London:Macmillan Prees LTD.
Freeman,Samuel (2003).The Cambridge Compamion to Rawls. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kekes, John(1997).Against Liberalism. NewYork: Cornell University Press.
Kukathas, Chanderan and Pettit, Philip(1990). Rawls: A Theory of Justice and its Critic. Stanford : Stanford University Press.
Mulhall, Stephen, and Swift, Adam(1992). Liberals and Communitarians. Oxford ,UK: Basil Blackwell. 
Nozik, Robert(1974). Anarchy, State and Utopia. New York: Basic Books.
Plant, Raymond(1991). Modern Political Thought. Oxford: Basil Blakwell.
Rawls, John(1971). A Theory of Justice. Oxford University Press.
Rawls, John(1993).  Political Liberalism (Expanded Edition ). New York: Comlumbia University Press.
Rawls, John(2001).Justice as Fairness: A Reststament. Edited by Etin Kelly, Harvard University Press.
Sandel, Michael .J(1982).Liberalism and the Limits of Justice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Sandel, Michael .J(1984).Liberalism an It,s Critics. New York University Press.
Pizhuhish nāmah-i intiqādī-i mutūn va barnāmah hā-yi ̒ulūm-i insāni (Critical Studies in Texts & Programs of Human Sciences)
Volume 16, Issue 41
Winter 2016
Pages 117-132

  • Receive Date 06 December 2015
  • Revise Date 25 January 2017
  • Accept Date 13 March 2016

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us