A Study On The Method Of Realizing Rawls' Difference Principle

How can the social income and wealth be distributed in accordance with the principle of justice? Rawls' difference principle provides a wonderful answer about this issue. This principle holds that the unequal distribution of social income and wealth must at least meet the greatest interest of the least advantaged group in a just society. Obviously, in order to limit socio-economic inequality within an acceptable scope, it requires that people should examine and restrict it from the perspective of the least advantaged group. Such a theory reflects Rawls' great concern to the social vulnerable groups with his theory of justice as well as his intention for narrowing gap between rich and poor and realizing an ultimate social equality.This thesis aims to explore how the difference principle achieves its purpose of restricting socio-economic inequality from the perspective of the least advantaged group. Through logical interpretation, it makes it clear that there are two methods to realize the difference principle within Rawls' theoretical framework of justice. They go as follows:The first one is the method of institutional arrangement. To be specific, it firstly means that there is a social security policy to ensure the social minimum; it also demands a corresponding tax-policy support. Its essence is the redistribution of social wealth under government guidance.The second one is the method of individual beneficence, which is implicit in Rawls' theoretical framework of justice. To be specific, Rawls believes that the difference principle is consistent with the natural meaning of fraternity. This consistence enables us to find out the method of individual beneficence form Rawls' theoretical framework of justice. That is to say, human action consistent to the natural meaning of fraternity will meet the righteous requirement of the difference principle.According to the logical framework of this article, firstly we will briefly introduce and explain the difference principle; and then place the practice of the difference principle in the macro-background institutions. After that, we assume the background institutions start running. According to Rawls' viewpoint, it will lead to unjust socio-economic inequality in consequence. In order to restrict such inequality within a reasonable extent, the difference principle will function. In this process, both the institutional arrangement and individual beneficence will show up as the realizing methods of the difference principle.In Rawls' theoretical framework of justice, the method of institutional arrangement virtually depicts the overall outline of the two principles of justice applied to social basic institutions, while the method of individual beneficence is finally due to the principle of natural duty which is applied to the individual and illustrated by Rawls. In this sense, we can organically combine the principles for institution with the principles for individual within Rawls'theoretical framework of justice so as to offer a fresh perspective for understanding Rawls' theory of justice.At the same time, as this paper will show, the practice of the difference principle not only expresses that every person are equal in moral values, but also it encourages a society to narrow its gap between rich and poor, as well to improve the survival situation of social vulnerable groups. In this sense, the practice of the difference principle will promote social cohesion and social solidarity, and thus will maintain social harmony and stability. For this reason, the research of this paper will be of great value for coping with the problem of widening gap between rich and poor in the present stage of our society, and thus will help to build a socialistic harmonious society.