Rawls' Justice Principles And Its Inspiration For Our Nation Income Distribution System Reforms

Distribution justice is the eternal pursuit of value for human society. Seeking fair distribution principles, concerning the best interests of the least-advantaged class, and realizing liberty, equality and fraternity are the social ideal of indefatigable pursuit for every nation. Basing his theory origin on Aristotle's distribution justice, Kant's view of freedom and categorical imperative as well as Locke's"modern people's viewpoint of liberty", Rawls built his own edifice of justice theory. Making a set of logical assumptions about environmental justice and basing on contractual theory, Rawls put forward two distribution justice principles in the original position and under the background of"the veil of ignorance". The first one is the principle of equal basic liberty, which aims to protect the citizen's fundamental freedom. The second one is the difference principle, including two aspects: the maximum benefit of the least well off principle and the equal opportunity principle. Difference principle requires inequality of distribution,such as in wealth and income, should be advantageous to the least-advantaged class. If it can be guaranteed by social system, it is just, otherwise it is not just, mainly suitable for the citizens' income and the distribution of wealth. The two distribution justice principles are arranged like a dictionary, not just a simple enumeration, including the principle of priority to justice and the principle of priority of justice to efficiency and welfare. A systematic clarification and elaboration of content of Rawls justice principles will be helpful to discuss the new thinking put forward in allocation system reforms, which now faces many challenges while making great progress and perfecting at the same time. Absorbing and drawing upon essence of Rawls distribution justice principles will spur the system reforms such as in national income distribution, individual income distribution and urban and rural regional income distribution more scientifically and fairly.