Justice from the perspective of John Rawls and Robert Nozick: a comparative perspective

Abstract

In this research the objective was to analyze justice considering the optics of John Rawls and Robert Nozick, from a comparative perspective. A documentary review of the bibliographic material on Rawls’ Theory of Justice (1975) and Nozick’s Anarchy, State and Utopia (1988) was carried out, also considering the knowledge of different experts on the subject. It is qualitative research of descriptive type, with a methodological design of theoretical, documentary, and diachronic cut. In relation to the data collection technique, the registration or registration of author, documentary and content references was used. As a result, it was possible to establish an analytical comparison referring to some outstanding criteria on the notion of justice, especially in relation to how the ownership and distribution of wealth is assumed, according to both philosophers, the action of the State, for Rawls of great inherence and for Nozick of minimal participation. It can be concluded from this analysis that there are antagonisms between these two philosophers because for Rawls justice is framed in a social egalitarianism, where society is something ideal, abstract, while Nozick assumes it within the thought of conservative liberalism, considering a real and concrete society.