Egalitarianism, basic structure and rawlsian contextualism

Abstract

This paper analyses whether it is appropriate to judge individual actions with the same principles of justice applicable to institutions. In order to achieve its aim the paper reviews Rawls` theory of justice and some objections against it. Critics of Rawlsian theory of justice deny that its principles only evaluate basic institutions. Furthermore, they claim that justice does not only require just institutions but just individual actions as well. The background hypothesis of this paper is that some principles suitable for some social contexts are not useful to judge other kind of social interactions. The argument relies on a normative interpretation of the notion of basic structure, which is considered a key element to defend the institutional character of the rawlsian account of justice.