📘 PSIR – Political Theory | Page 14 Concept of Justice (From Plato to Rawls and Beyond)
UPSC CSE Political Science & IR – Paper I Conceptual + Analytical + Mains-Oriented Notes | Shaktimatha Learning
1️⃣ What is Justice?
Justice refers to fairness in distribution, rights, duties and treatment in society.
It answers the fundamental political question: Who gets what, why, and how?
2️⃣ Classical View – Plato
- Justice = Harmony
- Each class performs its own function
- Philosopher King rules
Justice is structural balance in the state and soul.
Criticism: Supports hierarchy and limited democracy.
3️⃣ Aristotle – Distributive Justice
- Treat equals equally
- Treat unequals unequally
- Proportional distribution
Introduced concept of equity.
4️⃣ Utilitarian Justice (Bentham & Mill)
- Greatest happiness of greatest number
- Outcome-oriented justice
- Consequentialist approach
Justice depends on maximizing utility.
Criticism: May sacrifice minority rights.
5️⃣ Marxist View of Justice
Justice is linked to economic structure.
- Capitalism produces exploitation
- Justice requires abolition of private property
- From each according to ability, to each according to need
Focuses on material equality rather than procedural fairness.
6️⃣ John Rawls – Justice as Fairness
Rawls’ Two Principles:
- Equal basic liberties for all
- Social and economic inequalities allowed only if:
- Attached to fair equality of opportunity
- Benefit the least advantaged (Difference Principle)
Uses Original Position and Veil of Ignorance.
Rawls balances liberty and equality.
7️⃣ Robert Nozick – Entitlement Theory
- Minimal state
- Justice in acquisition and transfer
- No redistribution
Taxation = forced labor (according to Nozick).
Criticism: Ignores structural inequalities.
8️⃣ Types of Justice
- Distributive Justice
- Procedural Justice
- Corrective Justice
- Retributive Justice
- Social Justice
9️⃣ Justice in Indian Context
- Preamble – Justice: Social, Economic, Political
- Reservation policies
- Directive Principles of State Policy
- Welfare state orientation
Indian Constitution integrates liberal and social justice ideals.
🔟 Comparative Understanding
| Theory | Core Idea | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Plato | Harmony | Hierarchical |
| Utilitarian | Maximize happiness | Minority risk |
| Marxist | Economic equality | Liberty concern |
| Rawls | Fairness | Ideal theory |
| Nozick | Property rights | No redistribution |
📌 UPSC MAINS QUESTIONS
- Critically examine Rawls’ theory of justice.
- Is justice compatible with liberty?
- Discuss Marxist critique of liberal justice.
- Compare Rawls and Nozick.
Answer Structure:
- Define justice
- Classical view
- Modern theories
- Comparative analysis
- Indian constitutional relevance
- Balanced conclusion
Justice is not charity. It is the moral architecture of society.
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