The Specificity of the Theory of Justice and the Problem of Its Implementation in Russia

Abstract

The theory of justice by John Rawls belongs to the set of “local” theories in ethics. These theories constitute a middle ground between strong ethical theories and the so-called “anti-theories”. The local theories do not possess many specific features of the grand theories, but also are lacking many of the drawbacks, for which they are attacked by the “anti-theorists”. These theories are closely related to the social choice theories and tackle the problems of social development in liberal societies. Recently the local theories gained significant impetus in the liberal states for tackling concrete ethical problems. At the same time, these theories have certain limitations. These theories are of limited universalizability. The theory of Rawls is applicable only to liberal society and only for free and equal agents, capable of cooperative strategy. These theories should be regarded as further development and continuation of social choice theories. The social choice theories are striving for ethics the same as ethics is striving for social choice theory. It is due to this reason in particular that the theory of Rawls is inapplicable to Russia. Russia, according to Rawlsian classification, is a hierarchical society, and because of that, it cannot draw from Rawlsian theory of justice. The problem, which theory better suits Russian development, remains open. Presumably, it must be some kind of strong theory.