Study On The Theory Of Rawls' Social Justice

John Rawls is the most distinguished moral and political philosopher of our age. His theory of justice is based on his critique of traditional utilitarianism. Rawls point out the subject of justice is the principal institution used to distribute the fundamental civil rights and obligation ,to divide the interests and burdens generated from social cooperation. Justice is the primary value of social institution. A well-ordered society is regulated by conception of justice. Rawlsbelieves the general conception--liberty and opportunity, income and wealth,and bases of self-respect --are to be distributed equally unless an unequallydistribution of any goods is to the advantage of the least favored. The general conception of justice can be further broken up into two principles of justice. Principles of justice is the moral principle to be followed in establishing the basic structure of society, and dominate the subsequent and amendment of institution. Rawls' theory of justice is aimed at solving the problem of injustice in societythrough adjustment of principal social institution.How do principles of justice come into being? Rawls resorts to social contract and choose principles of justice by restriction of conditions like the original position, the veil of ignorance etc, thus proving the rationality of his two principles of justice during selection. Rawls' theory of justice not merely inherits traditional justice views, but even more creates and develops them; not only adapt to capitalist market economy, but also adapt to socialist economy. It has some realistic significance of individual freedom and state interference, of fairness and efficiency, of distribution in social wealth equally, and of shrinking the distance between the wealth and the poverty under the condition of market economy in our state.