RAWLSIAN THEORY OF JUSTICE AS FAIRNESS: A MARXIST CRITIQUE ( RAWLS'UN ADALET TEORİSİ ÜZERİNE MARKSİST BİR ELEŞTİRİ

What is it about?

Inspired by many philosophers such as John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Karl Marx, and John Stuart Mill, Rawls in his famous book called A Theory of Justice puts forward theoretical arguments regarding the notion of social justice. These arguments, based on Rawlsian approach, basically aim to make social justice possible by emphasising on how economic and political institutions that alleviate unfair distribution of rights and income in a given society should be organised. In this regard, this paper, based on Marx’s view of social justice, mainly seeks an answer to the simple question: “Is it possible to construct a just society in the way Rawls puts forward?” Basing arguments on Marx’s view of justice, the paper concludes that Rawls’ theory of justice fails to construct a just society. Rather, it is concluded that Rawls’ theory of justice legitimises economic and political inequalities in a capitalist society.

Featured Image