a critical evaluation on the concept of justice in planning process

2.3. Rawls and Justice as Fairness
In his theory, Rawls aims at reaching acceptable principles of division in a
society consisting of individuals in “original positions” of their own. 16 In realization of
these principles, he dwells on the social structure, the most just conditions acceptable
and the just operation of institutions in analytical and procedural terms both (Hünler;
1997). In order to reach the ideal principles, he first determines the main concepts of
justice theory and then elucidates the relationship between these concepts. 17 In these
hypothetically constituted ideal grounds, the understanding of social benefit consisting
of all individual interests adopted by the utilitarian approach is rejected (Rawls; 1971;
3-4). Contrary to this standpoint, Rawls suggests a framework for an original position
admitting that social benefits are of benefit to the individual. In this framework, the
individuals of ideal-hypothetical status reach an agreement via discussing the principles
of justice in order to attain social welfare.
The essential concept of his theory is: “justice as fairness”. In “justice as
fairness” approach, he states that the priority subject of justice is the basic structure of
society, i.e., the major institutions of society. In words of Rawls, this is expressed as
“…the way in which the major social institutions distribute fundamental rights and
duties and determine the division of advantages from social cooperation” (Rawls;
1971;7).
Concerning the issues as to which circumstances shall a theory of justice and
just conditions comprise and when injustice shall become acceptable, Rawls denotes the
following: “…A theory however elegant and economical must be rejected or revisited if
it is untrue; likewise laws and institutions no matter how efficient and well-arranged
must be reformed or abolished if they are unjust…justice denies that loss of freedom for
some is made right by a greater good shared by others…in a just society the liberties of
16 Rawls delineates a starting point in accepting the perception of justice in the entire society.
Hipothetically, at this point (original position) where nobody has any idea concerning the past and
relations of division, the individuals are covered with a veil of ignorance. This initial point is accepted as
a preliminary situation required for adoption of justice principles. This framework is the one which is
used societally by individuals in agreement upon justice principles in order to forget the existing
inequalities in terms of past-present-future and head towards new principles by breaking off from the
historical context.
17 As for the other concepts that are determining in elucidation of this concept, they cover the concepts of
original position, veil of ignorance, initial situation, sense of justice, basic structure of society, reflective
equilibrium, social contract, thin good theory, full good theory, and procedural justice.
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