Marxism Research Network
Unofficial English Translation

Outline of Distributive Justice Theory

Outline of the Theory of Distributive Justice

Abstract On the basis of summarizing research on distributive justice theory within Western academia, this book discriminates between and analyzes basic concepts related to justice, clarifies several common misunderstandings, and discusses the environmental conditions necessary for realizing distributive justice. It proposes a framework for contemporary principles of distributive justice encompassing the "principle of equality, the principle of contribution, and the principle of need," providing a comparative study of the interrelationships between these three principles. Furthermore, it discusses deliberative democracy as a path toward achieving a consensus-based distributive justice. Premised upon this theoretical analysis, the author integrates these principles of distributive justice into the institutional reality of contemporary China, discussing the relationship between distributive justice and socialism, the market economy, and social security, while attempting to analyze the Chinese context for the growth of democracy as procedural justice.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter I: The Definition of Justice Section 1: The External Periphery of Justice Section 2: The Connotation of Justice Section 3: What is Distributive Justice?

Chapter II: The Circumstances of Justice Section 1: The Status of External Resources Section 2: The Balance of Power among Subjects Section 3: The Boundaries of Community Section 4: The "Veil of Ignorance" [1] Section 5: Social Values and Concepts

Chapter III: The Principle of Equality Section 1: Equality in Common Ownership of Resources Section 2: Equality of Rights Section 3: Equality of Opportunity Section 4: "Equality of Welfare"

Chapter IV: The Principle of Contribution Section 1: Wealth, Value, and Contribution Section 2: The Contribution of Productive Labor Section 3: The Contribution of Non-productive Labor Section 4: The Abolition of Exploitation

Chapter V: The Principle of Need Section 1: Four Meanings of Distribution According to Need [2] Section 2: Adjustments "Endowment-Insensitive" [3] Section 3: Rectification of Holdings Section 4: The Difference Principle and Adjustment According to Need [4]

Chapter VI: Conflicts and Lexical Ordering of Principles Section 1: The Principle of Equality and the Principle of Contribution Section 2: The Principle of Equality and the Principle of Need Section 3: The Principle of Contribution and the Principle of Need

Chapter VII: Democracy as Procedural Justice Section 1: The Value of Justice in Democracy Section 2: Conditions for the Realization of Democracy Section 3: The Limitations of Deliberative Democracy Section 4: Deliberative Democracy and Injustice

Chapter VIII: Distributive Justice and Socialism Section 1: The Connotation of Justice in Marxism Section 2: The History and Logic of Distributive Justice Section 3: Justice and the Essence of Socialism [5]

Chapter IX: Distributive Justice and the Market Economy Section 1: The Inherent Justness of the Market Section 2: Fairness Prioritizing Efficiency [6] Section 3: The Limits of Market Justice

Chapter X: Distributive Justice and Social Security Section 1: The Origins of Justice in Social Security Section 2: The Value of Justice in Social Security Section 3: Social Security in Contemporary China

Chapter XI: The Chinese Context and the Growth of Democracy Section 1: The Rational Basis of Governance Section 2: The Challenge of Political Corruption

Bibliography

Postscript