In this module, students will study how Rawls’ argued with other philosophers using his Justice

and Fairness Theory. This theory demonstrates the fair distribution of shares and justice, in
which he proposes the two principles called Liberty principle and the Difference principle. Rawls
also argued in his theory on “Veil of Ignorance” as a thought experiment in making decisions.
Lastly, topics on taxation and citizens responsibility will also part of the discussion, where Rawls
argued that taxation is a means by which citizens accomplish their responsibilities

The student s in this module shall be able to:

1. Explain Rawls' Justice and Fairness principle

2. Differentiate Rawls' Liberty principle from Difference principle of justice and fairness. 

3. Examine the three types of Distributive justice; egalitarian, capitalist, and socialist

4. Understand the importance of taxation towards the social welfare concept.

5.  Do informal debates on some pressing social issues.

3. Topic 1: Rawl's Justice as Fairness Principle

Let us begin by knowing the ethicists behind the ethical principle known as Justice and
Fairness.  His name is John Rawls.  He is an American political philosopher in the 20th
century who rejects utilitarianism and offers a number of arguments against such theory.
According to him, utilitarianism does not solve the problem of slavery for it does not respect
fundamental rights and liberties. So in this module, be ready to unearth Rawls' theories on
his” Justice and Fairness” theory.

What is "Justice as Fairness" about?

Rawls proposed a conception of justice — he called it “justice as fairness”. Its' aims to effect

a “reconciliation of liberty and equality.” Rawls also theorizes the reconciliation of liberty and
equality that shaped his two principles of justice. Justice and Fairness principle
theorizes that all the people in the society should have equal rights especially those who are
considered the "least advantaged".

1. The first principle known as the Liberty principle is a social justice principle that

explains equal basic liberties — each citizen has a right to the most extensive system of
equal basic personal and political liberties compatible with a similar system of liberties for
others. One common example of this principle is the US Bill of Rights that includes freedom
of speech and due process of law. In addition to this basic liberties are human rights such
as 1) Freedom to travel, 2) Right to own private, corporation, or workers to own private
property
 Rawl’s first principle has its limitations when it comes to liberties such as the “right to inherit
wealth because he argued that this right does not fall under the things that are considered
“basic” He reiterates, however, that while individuals may be morally equal, in the real world
according to him, people have differing views that will lead to social and economic
inequalities.

This principle also includes a demanding norm of political equality, which condemns
inequalities in opportunities for political influence. Thus citizens with the motivation and
ability to play an active political role should not be disadvantaged by a lack of personal
wealth.

2. The Second Principle - is a theory also known as the Difference Principle. It says that
society could not avoid inequalities among its people which seems to be an ideal principle
of social justice. According to him, all differences in wealth and income should work for the
good of the least favored or the skilled workers at that. In short, Rawls’ ranked his principles
to his supposed order of priority.

Rawls’ Difference principle, further suggests about the so-called social contract should
guarantee that everyone has an equal opportunity to prosper. In other words, if there are
any social or economic differences in the social contract, others should help those who are
the worst off. And, any advantages in the contract should be available to everyone.

Topic #2: The Thought Experiment Principle

All people are biased by their situations, so how can people agree on a “social contract” to
govern how the world should work. There are at least two primary principles which are the
Liberty and the Difference principles that supplement Rawls’  “thought experiment also
known as “veil of ignorance”. Rawls argues that we sit behind a veil of ignorance that
keeps us from knowing who we are and identifying with our personal circumstances. By
being ignorant of our circumstances, we can objectively consider how societies should
operate.

1. In Rawls’ “veil of Ignorance principle, he argued that with many social systems of justice
principle, he set imaginary participants (people) who then selects their own society, thus
would be resolved by focusing mostly on what most people in most societies want. He
further argued that rational beings would pick four things which he called as primary goods
namely:
   1. wealth and income
   2. opportunities for advancement
   3. rights and liberties
   4. self-respect

Rawls’ argued that the participants would have to decide on how a society should go about
the fair distribution of these primary goods among its people.

4. Topic 2: Distributive Justice

Distributive Justice
This concept is concerned with the nature of just the allocation of goods and services in a
society. Rawl’s posits that if incidental inequalities in outcomes do not arise, that is when
the principle of Distributive justice comes in. Distributive justice includes the available
quantities of goods and the process by which goods are distributed to the society’s
members.

There are two types of Distributive Justice:

1. Equity - this explains the member’s outcomes will be based on their inputs. This means
that if you invested a large amount of input, that is time, money, and energy, you will also
receive more than the group that has contributed very little.

1. Equality - means that regardless of your inputs, all groups should be given an equal
share of the reward.

2. Power - refers to those with more authority, status should receive more than those who
belong to the lower rank.

3. Need - those in greatest needs should be provided with the resources needed in order to
meet those needs.

4. Responsibility - purports that members of the group who have the most must share their
resources with those who have less. 

Topic #5: Other related Views on Distributive Justice

1. Egalitarian. This is a set of closely related socio-economic-political theories that without

exemption, proposes that all members in a society ought to have an equal amount of
resources

2. Capitalist/ Laissez-faire capitalist view explains that when people, businesses, and

corporations perform based on their individuals’ interest for their own benefit. For Rawls,
laissez-faire capitalism is also unjust because it reflects an unequal distribution of wealth
and income concentrated in the hands of a few people which in turn, deprives some of the
citizen’s means essential to compete fairly for desired benefits and positions.

3. Socialist - is a system where the government controls the production of goods and
services. A better version of this is democratic socialism also called “welfare democracy”
which means that the system incorporates free-market principles in producing goods and
services. Countries that practice this theory are some European countries such as
Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

There are three central topics about which one encounters some fresh ideas from Rawls.
One topic is the application of Rawls's conception of justice, especially the economic
standards. This theory suggests about the capitalist welfare state, in which it does not meet
his criteria for a just society, and a property-owning democracy, which does. Rawls goes
into some detail about the sort of taxation that a property-owning democracy might use to
realize fair equality of opportunity and the difference principle. Rawls maintains that certain
inheritance, income, or consumption taxes may be used, but that a head tax (requiring the
talented to compensate the untalented, regardless of whether the talented receive gifts,
earn a salary, or purchase goods)

5. Topic 3: An Evaluation of Rawl's Principle

Justice as Fairness principle has also its flaws and weaknesses. For example, Rawl's
Difference principle which has something to do with the idea that the greatest benefit must
go to the least advantaged, to some is controversial. It is just unacceptable and unjust to get
from rich people what they have and redistribute it for the benefit of the less fortunate.

Here are some of the observable criticism of Rawls' Principles:

1.  Does not allow ample tolerance for various religious and intensely held beliefs.
2. The idea about "the greatest benefit must go to the least advantaged" is deemed to be
controversial and unacceptable to other critics.
3.  Free market critics argue that it is unjust to get from wealthy people what they have and
redistribute it for the benefit of the less fortunate.

Moreover, John Rawls admitted that his theory for having a just society is very idealistic.
6. Topic 4: State and Citizenship Responsibility

State and Citizens Responsibility

This topic includes taxation which means that the state and its citizens must accomplish their
responsibilities to each other. First, let us know the meaning of taxation.

Taxation is a means by which states and governments finance their expenditures basically for
their constituents, thereby imposing charges on them. Government expenditures fundamentally
involve social welfare programs for its citizens.

Inclusive growth - is an economic growth that creates opportunities for all segments of societies
and distributes the dividends of increased prosperity both in monetary and non-monetary terms
fairly in its society (“Inclusive growth, n.d.).