ABSTRACT
This thesis is designed to make a critical evaluation of
John Rawls’ approach to social justice (distributive Justice), especially as he
in his books, A Theory of Justice, that there is inequality in
the society and anything that will worsen the already bad condition of the
poor. The pervesion of justice in the society both in political and economic
sectors has resulted in existence of a wide gap between the rich and the poor.
This he says has in turn contributed in worsening the already deplorable
condition of the poor. He therefore holds that the sure way of correcting this
social ill is the application of the principles of his ‘ Justice as fairness’
in the society. In evaluating this notion however, we came to the conclusion
that even though Rawls’ principles of justice as fairness are idealistic
(hence, is Utopic), it is stil useful in practical life; for it among others things,
tells us what we should do to correct injustices, deep distrust, and material
deprivation.
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE
STUDY
Each
individual human being says Fagothey is not alone in the world, but lives in company with human beings1 In other
words; each of us is more than an isolated individual. In fact, many living
beings thrive better in group, clusters, colonies, or herds in which there may
be some degree of cooperation. This therefore, gives us the idea of society.
But society in the strict sense can be “formed only by rational and free
being since it is union based on agreement about goals”2
However among the basic element for the existence of society
are: “cooperation among members, for the achievement of common good; and moral
bonds means and end.”3 Based on these elements, society may
therefore be defined as “an enduring union of a member of persons morally bound
under authority to co-operate for a common good.”4 The common good is therefore, the
end for which society exists. It is also regarded as “an intermediate end, (in
so far as), it is a means toward the ultimate end of each member of the
society.”
However, while the
collectivists (i.e., the communist and the socialist), stress on making the common
good, entity over and above the individual good, the individualists (i.e., the
liberal capitalists) emphasize eon making the common good a mere sum of
individual goods. But an adequate view of society and the common good
must find a place between these two extremes. And that is John Rawls’ theory of (social) justice aims at achieving.”5 In other
words, in social justice, citizens put in and receive their measure of their
social goods from the society in proportional manner. Hence it requires not
only a just distribution of the socio- economic out but the possibility of
making fresh productivity, so that those who engaged in socio-economic
cooperation may be able to increase their income”6
The common good is therefore
realized only in the individuals who make up society, but it is good that they
achieve only by the cooperative interaction of the many. In other words to have
a common good that can be the end of society, it is not enough that it concerns
several persons. That might give us two interdependent private goods, such we
find in contracts of exchange only in wages from his or her labour, each
benefits the other, but they have not a common good in the strict sense. To
have a common good as end of their joint effort, the employer must be genuinely
interested in the welfare of the employee, the employee must in turn, have at
heart the success of business; and these two interest must in turn merged into
one common enterprise. They must help each other not only accidentally, because
their private goods are entangled but essentially because they share in the one
same good. For the lack of this common good, the type of employer- employee
relationship normally found today, especially in the capitalist society, said
to be wanting.
However,
because of the dynamic nature of the common good (especial in its concrete
sense), due to the dynamic nature of society, the perfect attainment of the
common good is never realizable. Thus, man’s problem appears to be rooted in
the general imperfection and contingencies that mark his universe. These
include the obvious human scarcity and needs and also glaring inequalities of
life. These factors are ethically relevant because they tend to affect the life
of man adversely. In other words, when human need combines with scarcity, there
emerges what M. Rearden calls the “inescapable pressures”7 of human
existence, which seem to create the conflict of interest, that make the issue
of right and justice necessary. Justice as one of the cardinal virtues has
therefore been postulated as one of the ways of living that would ensure that
would ensure peaceful and ordered co-existence in human society, and most
importantly for the attainment of common good in that society.
From the time of Aristotle, the
word justice has been used in general sense and particular sense. In a general
sense, justice is broad as to cover all the virtues that have any social
significance. But in the particular sense, justice is that moral virtue which
regulates our conduct towards other men. Hence it incline s us to give to each
person what is due to him or her. Particular justice could be distributive or
commutative justice.
Distributive justice, which
Aristotle calls general justice and Thomas Aquinas, “legal justice,” refers to
the organization of society in such a way that the which all are expected to contribute in
proportion to their ability and opportunity, is available to all the members,
for their ready use and enjoyment. It shows itself more in economic, industrial
racial and political relations but does not restrict itself to these. It
involves everything connected with being good citizens or a good member of
society and reaping what ought to be the reward of upright and cooperative
social conduct. ‘
However, John Rawls see
“justice as fairness”. And in his Theory of Justice, he develops
principles of justice to govern a modern social order. Rawls hold that
the principles of justice ought to be chosen behind “ a veil
of ignorance”10 In other words, for Rawls, hold that the principles
that will eventually emerge as legitimate for guiding the individuals in the
society ought to be formulated under a certain condition of fair and
impartiality. Rawls’ main aim in saying this is to ensure that common good is
not just equally shared but equitably distributed. How this is to be achieved
is what Rawls presented in his theory of social Justice. Rawls therefore
maintains that any arrangement of society that excludes or hinders certain
classes or group within it from their fair share of the common good is a
violation of social justice. In capitalist system for instance, insensitivity
to the deplorable condition of the poor makes it bad. Rawls” effort in his Theory
of Justice is therefore to improve on the capitalist system. It thus tries
to remove indifference and insensitivity, to the plight of the poor, out of
capitalism and thereby make it more morally acceptable. Its premise is that there is
inequality in capitalist society and in this circumstance; the most moral
course of action is not to do anything that will worsen the already bad
condition of the poor. Rawls therefore opines, “no action, social arrangement
or change, should be allowed to take place unless it is going to improve the
lot of the poor.”11 This for him should be the standard by
which all actions, arrangement or changes, in the society are to be judged.
Thus, Rawls’ main preoccupation in his Theory of Justice is how to
improve the lot of the poor in the capitalist system.
This thesis sets out to
critically evaluate Rawls’ theory of (social) Justice. In doing this ewe shall
try to point out some problems with regard to implementing this theory, and
suggest some ways through which these problem can be over come.
1.2 STATEMENT
OF PROBLEM.
“There is inequality in every
society” say John Rawls. This creates the classes of the rich and the
poor in the society. In the capitalist system according to him, this inequality
has worsened to the extent that the rich are getting richer, while the poor are
getting poorer. And this he says, constitutes a violation of social justice,
since there is exploitation of labourers by the owners of business firm. The
problem then is how is this ugly situation going to be corrected? This is what
Rawls’ theory of Justice addresses. And so, the problem, which this thesis,
whishes to tackle is how, has Rawls’ theory of (social)
justice helped in ameliorating the bad condition of less privileged in the
capitalist society.
1.3 PURPOSE
OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study arose
from the pressing need to find some ways of ameliorating the deteriorating
condition of the poor in the (capitalist) society. The perversion of justice in
the society both in political and economic sectors has resulted in existence of
ea wide gap between the rich and the poor in the society. This has in turn
contributed in worsening the already deplorable condition of the poor. Thus,
this thesis aims at proffering some poor in the capitalist society.
1.4 THE
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study is limited to
discussing how social justice should be applied in the capitalist system, so as
to reduce the hardship of the poor therein. However 2, for proper justification
of our topic, we shall use Nigeria socio-economic system as a case study.
It is hoped that this thesis
will help to better the condition of the poor in our society by reawakening in
the mind of the people, the sense of fairness and equality in dealing with
their neighbors.
The study is equally expected
to prove that the theory can be converted into practice; by using Rawls’ theory
of social justice to proffer solution to problem of exploitation in the
capitalist system. When successfully done it would then be ea contribution to
the proofs made by many other philosophers of the usefulness of philosophy to
practical life.
Also student carrying out
further research on this topic, or other related topics, may find this study
very helpful, for it will serve as an insight into bad condition of the poor in
the capitalist society.
1.6 METHODOLOGY
The method employed in this thesis is analytical and
critical approach. The thesis is therefore presented in two dimensions: one is
an analysis of Rawls’ theory of (social) justice and capitalist system. A
highlight of the attendant evils of capitalism is also presented here.
Another dimension is critical
evaluation of the significance of this theory with particular reference to the
condition of the less privileged in the capitalist society.
However, for convenience sake,
the thesis is divided into five chapters: Chapter one is a general
introduction. Here, the background of the study, purpose the scope and as well
as it significance are presented. Also the method of this approach and the
definitions of some important terms used in the thesis are presented here.
Chapter two is a review of
important related literatures. Here some works that made some vital comment
before Rawls’ as well as his contemporaries are critically reviewed. This helps
us to appreciate better Rawls’ theory of Justice as it gives us the glimpse of
the background under which Rawls wrote his book A Theory of Justice
which serves as our main source in this thesis. The review also helps us to see
how some contemporaries o Rawls have reacted to his view in this regard. This
will also help us to know the direction we will follow as we try to evaluate
Rawls’ theory of justice in this thesis.
Chapter three is an analysis of
John Rawls’ theory of justice. While chapter four is an analysis of capitalist
system. in doing this some merits and demerits of capitalism are highlighted.
Chapter Five however is a
critical evaluation of Rawls theory of justice and its usefulness in
ameliorating the bad condition of the poor in the society. Also our own
suggestions for reducing the deplorable condition of less privileged in the
society are presented here.
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