Rolls Distributive Justice Theoretical Research

Beginning with tracing the theoretical sources and the social foundation of Rawls' theory, I analyzed in this paper the role of Rawls' theory of distributive justice in the development of political philosophy and the conception of distributive justice. I also discussed the methodology with which Rawls constructed his theoretical system. Based on reviewing his grounds of argument, his reasoning, and criticism made by other theoreticians, I made further analyses on the priority of basic liberties, difficulties in the difference principle, and the grounds and limits of redistribution.Although Rawls' theory aroused an unexpected reverberation in western world, it's not a theory without precedent in history. His theory closely related to past thoughts, and was shaped by political agenda in actual social life. Rawls inherited the doctrines of liberalism, contractualism, deontology, constructivism, rationalism, pragmatism, and non-foundationalism. He integrated them together, and developed them. He incisively grasped the question put forward by the real social life. By focusing on distributive justice, he advanced the political philosophy from the theory of anti-absolutism and anti-totalitarianism to the theory of pursuing social and economic equality in a constitutional democratic system.Rawls sublated the ancient theory of "merits" and the modern theory of "rights", put forward a theory of pure procedural background justice, which emphasizes that distribution should be made based on a citizen's needs for his development as a free and equal citizen.In his theory, he identified three methods of constructing theory of distributive justice. They are contractualism, reflective equilibrium, and constructivism. However, he didn't explain their relationship. In Chapter 3, I try to explain their meaning respectively, and then explain how they interconnect with each other and form a coherent series of methods.The rigorous reasoning is a characteristic of Rawls' theory. In an era of anti-rationalism and anti-system hubbub, he resumed the idea of political philosophy as systematic and reasonable learning. This is partly the cause why his theory is attractive to many people. In Chapter 4 and Chapter 5,1 expatiated the connotation of his two principles of justice and his justification for them. I also reviewed some influential criticism made by Nozick, Sandel, and Walzer.Rawls' theory was well-knit. Nevertheless, it has its difficulties. Hisjustification for the priority of basic liberties excessively depended on an idea of "citizens as free and equal", and therefore was heavily restricted. I think the justification can be more forceful if it were supplemented with an open way of justification appealing to common experiences. His difference principle neglects that the idea of reciprocity contains the principle of contribution, and leads to a conception of distribution based on the entitlement of citizens. I take for this as the main reason that people do not accept his difference principle. Finally, I analyzed the grounds of redistribution and its limits. I think that the reason for redistribution rests with that "the most advantaged people" have used more public resources exclusively in the process of their development. Hence they should make return to the people who didn't use the resources that they also have rights to use. But the compensation should be limited in the sphere that the further development of "the most advantaged people" should not be substantially harmed by excessive imposition.