PLC3701-Assignment 2-S1-Question 4

Political Ideas


PLC3701


Semester 1 – 2024


Assignment 2




Question 4: Rawls (1980) interprets justice as “fairness”. He argued that the notion of ‘justice as
fairness’ conveys the idea that the principles of justice are agreed to in an initial situation that is
fair. He thus considers the principle of justice to be the foundation of social order. Letseka
(2014) posits that Rawls’s theory of justice resonates with Ubuntu as an indigenous African
notion of fair communal justice. Critically discuss Rawls theory of justice as fairness. Can it be
perceived as fairness in the context of Ubuntu? Justify your answer.




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, Table of Contents
1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1

2 Rawls’ Theory of Justice as Fairness .................................................................. 1

3 Critique of Rawls’ Theory .................................................................................... 3

4 Rawls’ Theory and Ubuntu .................................................................................. 5

5 Challenges in Applying Rawls’ Theory in the Context of Ubuntu ......................... 6

6 Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 7

References ................................................................................................................. 8