Social justice

Social Justice is a concept that has fascinated philosophers ever since Plato rebuked the young Sophist, Thrasymachus, for asserting that justice was whatever the strongest decided it would be. In The Republic, Plato formalised the argument that an ideal state would rest on four virtues: wisdom, courage, moderation, and justice.

The basic liberties

Rawls listed:

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• freedom of thought;
• liberty of conscience as it affects social relationships on the grounds of religion, philosophy, and morality;
• political liberties (e.g. representative democratic institutions, freedom of speech and the press, and freedom of assembly;
• freedom of association;
• freedoms necessary for the liberty and integrity of the person (viz: freedom from slavery, freedom of movement and a reasonable degree of freedom to choose one's occupation); and
• rights and liberties covered by the rule of law.