📘 PSIR – Political Theory | Page 17 Concept of Justice (Utilitarian, Rawls, Nozick, Marxist & Indian Perspectives)
UPSC CSE Political Science & IR – Paper I Conceptual + Analytical + Mains-Oriented Notes | Shaktimatha Learning
1️⃣ What is Justice?
Justice refers to fairness in distribution of rights, duties, resources and opportunities.
It answers the fundamental political question: Who gets what, when and how?
2️⃣ Classical View – Plato & Aristotle
Plato: Justice is harmony in society. Each class performs its function.
Aristotle:
- Distributive Justice – According to merit
- Corrective Justice – Rectifying wrongs
3️⃣ Utilitarian Justice
Jeremy Bentham and J.S. Mill define justice as maximizing happiness of majority.
Principle: Greatest good of greatest number.
Criticism: May sacrifice minority rights.
4️⃣ John Rawls – Justice as Fairness
Rawls rejects utilitarianism.
- Original Position
- Veil of Ignorance
- Two Principles of Justice
Principle 1: Equal basic liberties.
Principle 2: Social and economic inequalities must benefit least advantaged.
Rawls attempts moral balance between liberty and equality.
5️⃣ Robert Nozick – Libertarian Critique
Nozick rejects redistributive justice.
Justice lies in just acquisition and voluntary transfer.
State should be minimal (Night-watchman state).
Criticism: Ignores structural inequalities.
6️⃣ Marxist View of Justice
Marx considers justice as ideological tool of ruling class.
True justice possible only in classless society.
Focus on economic equality and abolition of exploitation.
7️⃣ Types of Justice
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Distributive | Fair allocation of resources |
| Procedural | Fair decision-making process |
| Social | Removal of structural inequalities |
| Corrective | Compensation for injustice |
8️⃣ Justice in Indian Constitution
Preamble mentions:
- Social Justice
- Economic Justice
- Political Justice
Reservation policies, welfare schemes and DPSPs reflect distributive justice.
9️⃣ Contemporary Debates
- Climate justice
- Intergenerational justice
- Gender justice
- Digital justice
📌 UPSC MAINS QUESTIONS
- Critically examine Rawls’ theory of justice.
- Is utilitarian justice compatible with individual rights?
- Compare Rawls and Nozick.
- Discuss Marxist critique of liberal justice.
Ideal Answer Structure:
- Define justice
- Classical background
- Utilitarian view
- Rawlsian theory
- Nozick’s libertarian critique
- Marxist critique
- Indian constitutional relevance
- Contemporary application
- Balanced conclusion
Justice is the moral foundation of political legitimacy.
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