An Attempt to Understand Social Justice in Liberal Societies: Justice as Fairness According to John Rawls

Abstract

This study aimed to examine ‎John Rawls's theory of social justice as one of the most influential contemporary theories in liberal political philosophy. It sought to explain the philosophical foundations of the theory of Justice as Fairness, analyze Rawls's critique of utilitarianism, and clarify how the principles of justice are constructed through the concepts of the Original Position and the Veil of Ignorance. The study also addressed Rawls's two principles of justice, namely the principle of equal basic liberties and the principle of fair equality of opportunity combined with the Difference Principle, while tracing the developments introduced in his later work, Political Liberalism. The research adopted a critical analytical approach through the examination of Rawls's original texts and the discussion of major criticisms directed at his theory from libertarian, communitarian, feminist, and capability-based perspectives. The study concluded that Justice as Fairness represents a serious philosophical attempt to reconcile liberty and equality within contemporary liberal societies and continues to provide an important framework for understanding social justice despite the criticisms and revisions it has undergone.