-

Öz

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

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Social Contract, Original Position, Difference Principle, Historical Materialism

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

Öz

Abstract

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.   

Özet

John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Karl Marx ve John Stuart Mill gibi birçok filozoftan esinlenen Rawls, A Theory of Justice adlı ünlü kitabında sosyal adalet ilkesiyle alakalı teorik argümanlar öne sürmektedir. Rawls’un geliştirmiş olduğu bu argümanların temel amacı; toplumdaki siyasi ve ekonomik eşitsizlikleri azaltmak için ekonomik ve siyasi kurumların nasıl düzenlenmesi gerektiğini sağlamaktır. Marksist sosyal adalet anlayışından yola çıkan bu çalışma kısaca ‘Rawls’un ortaya atmış olduğu argümanlar doğrultusunda adil bir toplum oluşturulabilir mi? sorusuna cevap aramaktadır. Genelde Marksist felsefeden, özelde ise Marks’ın sosyal adalet ilkesinden hareket eden bu çalışmanın temel tezi; Rawls’un ortaya atmış olduğu teorik argümanların adil bir toplum yaratmada neden yetersiz kaldığını açıklamak ve her şeyden önemlisi de Rawls’çu adalet anlayışının kapitalist bir toplumda ekonomik ve siyasi eşitsizlikleri nasıl meşrulaştırdığını açıklamaktır.       

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Toplum Sözleşmesi, Başlangıç Pozisyonu, Fark İlkesi, Üretim Tarzı

Kaynakça

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY / REFERENCES
2. CHRISTIE, Isham. (2015). ‘A Marxist Critique of John Rawls’ Theory of Justice’, [on 21. 01. 2015 accesed by] http://tr.scribd.com/doc/137100966/Marxist-Critique-of-Rawls#scribd
3. COHEN, A., Gerald. (2008). Rescuing Equality and Justice, Cambridge Press: London.
4. DEMARTINO, George. (2004). ‘Realising Class Justice’, Rethinking Marxism, (15).(1): 1-31.
5. DIQUATTROO, Arthur. (1983). ‘Rawls and Left Criticism’, Political Theory, (11).(1): 53-78.
6. FREEMAN, Samuel. (1999). Collected Papers, Harvard University Press: Cambridge.
7. GERAS, Norman. (1992). ‘Bringing Marx to Justice: An Addendum and Rejoinder’, New Left Review, Vol. 195: 27-56.
8. HUNT, Ian. (2013). ‘Marx and Rawls on the Justice of Capitalism: A Possible Synthesis?’ Value Inquiry, (Vol) 47 : 49-65.

9. KAI, Nielsen. (1988). ‘Arguing About Justice: Marxist Immoralism and Marxist Moralism’, Philosophy and Public Affairs, (17). (3): 212-238.
10. MARX, Karl, Engels, Friedrich. (1976). Collected Works. Vol 5. Progress Press: Moscow.
11. MARX, Karl (1981). Capital, Volume III, Penguin Books Press: Harmondsworth.
12. MARX, Karl. (2008). Critique of The Gotha Programme, Wildside Press: Rockville, USA.
13. MILLER, Richard (1974). ‘Rawls and Marxism’, Philosophy and Public Affairs, (3). (2): 167-191.
14. NOZICK, Robert. (1974), Anarchy, State, and Utopia, Basic Books Press: NewYork.
15. PEFFER, G., Rodney (1990). Marxism, Morality and Social Justice, Princeton University Press: Princeton, New Jersey.
16. Rawls, John. (1971). A theory of Justice, Harvard University Press: Cambridge.
17. Tucker, Robert. (1978). The Marx-Engels Reader, Second Edition, Norton Press: New York.
18. Wei, Xiapoing. (2008). ‘From Principle to Context: Marx versus Nozick and Rawls on Distributive Justice’, Rethinking Marxism, (20). (3): 472-486.
19. Wolf, R. Paul. (1977) Understanding Rawls, Princeton University Press: Princeton, New Jersey.
20. Wood, W. Allan. (1972). ‘The Marxian Critique of Justice’, Philosophy and Public Affairs Vol. (1): 244-282.