Sandel’s Supplement To The Theory Of Justice Of Rawls

John Rawls is known as one of the most important political philosophers in 20~thh century for A Theory of Justice(1971).The main theme of his contractarian theory of justice,namely“justice as fairness”,mainly includes the critique to utilitarianism and intuitionism,the circumstances of justice,the principles of justice,distributive justice and the deontological nature of justice.Responses to his theory of justice are much divided,and Rawls has also revised and refined it repeatedly in his works.Michael J.Sandel is regarded as one of representative communitarian critics to Rawls’theory,but he has expressed his refusal to this label for he believes that justice shouldn’t be defined in an irreconcilable way by different doctrines.His ideas of justice and his criticism to Rawls over social justice,especially to the insufficiencies and inadequacies in Rawls’theory cause controversies as well as reflections in academic circle.By means of comparative study,the thesis examines the theory of justice of John Rawls and Michael J.Sandel.By analyzing their ways of constructing the conception of justice,the thesis argues that Sandel’s theory of justice supplements Rawls’theory of justice.The thesis focuses on the way that Sandel supplements to Rawls in regard to utilitarianism and distributive justice,the hypothetical environments of justice and the deontological conception of justice,and thereby the argument is elaborated.Firstly,in terms of utilitarianism and distributive justice,Rawls mainly explores the infeasibility and the teleological nature of utilitarianism applied to the society as a whole.Sandel agrees with Rawls on that utilitarianism cannot serve as the foundation of social justice,yet he adds the view that the utilitarian calculation fails to respect the moral value and dignity of the citizens.In terms of distributive justice,Rawls’fundamental idea is reflected in his illustration of the two principles of justice.Sandel supplements Rawls by explaining the reasonability of Rawls’difference principle in addressing economic inequalities.Then the thesis studies Rawls’hypothetical environments of justice.Sandel reveals the moral force of Rawls’original position in eliminating moral arbitrariness.In addition,individuals in Rawls’theory are identified as rational and hypothetical ones,conditioned by the requirements of the original position.Sandel explores Kant’s idea of individual as rational and free being and believes that it provides a foundation for equal rights and freedom in Rawlsian theory.Therefore he explains the significance of Rawlsian hypothetical individuals.The final chapter deals with Rawls’deontological conception of justice which represents Rawls’neutral standpoint over moral debates.Sandel supplements Rawls by illustrating a wider scope in understanding justice with honoring certain virtues.In other words,justice should also be teleological.Moreover,this chapter discusses conceptions of goodness which are defined in an individualistic way in Rawls’theory.Sandel’s supplement to these ideas indicates that citizens bear public responsibilities to the community they live in.And he points out that an appropriate way of allocating social advantages and respecting the freedom of individuals are not the only concerns of justice,and a more integrated idea of justice should also include the considerations of that nature of public life and common good.