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Desigualdades entre iguais : o princípio rawlsiano da diferença
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Abstract(s)
Consideramos o pressuposto de que os seres humanos nascem todos livres, dignos e iguais, e que o mesmo não pode ser entendido sem considerarmos igualmente o facto de todos serem seres morais e dotados de razão e sem a consequente afirmação da igualdade entre todos. E hoje, nas sociedades modernas e pluralistas, esta afirmação sustenta uma das mais importantes bases das reivindicações democráticas: a atribuição de um direito a uma igual liberdade social e política para todos.
Em consequência, consideramos também que a organização política de uma sociedade contemporânea, se pretende ser justa e bem ordenada, tem o dever de, previamente à sua constituição, escolha de forma de governo e criação das suas principais instituições, garantir de forma definitiva aquele direito, a partir de princípios de justiça adequados para esse efeito.
Na sua obra Uma teoria da justiça, publicada em 1971, o filósofo norte-americano John Rawls sustenta que são dois os princípios de justiça necessários para o estabelecimento de uma sociedade política justa e bem ordenada: o primeiro, que garanta a maior liberdade individual em igualdade de circunstâncias com todos os outros, e o segundo, que permita diminuir as desigualdades económicas e sociais em benefício dos membros menos favorecidos da sociedade.
Porém, se o liberalismo político, que o primeiro princípio rawlsiano encerra, tem vários séculos de argumentação filosófica em que se pode estribar, o mesmo não se pode afirmar do segundo, que Rawls identifica como o princípio da diferença. Este, consideramos nós, só pode ser apreendido e justificado de forma conveniente numa sociedade contemporânea, que pretenda ser justa, democrática e plural e onde haja consciência das injustiças que são provocadas por alguma desigualdade inicial entre pessoas que devem ser consideradas iguais.
O princípio da diferença, estabelecido, tal como o primeiro princípio, a partir da posição original das partes durante a deliberação sobre o pacto societário, traduz a preocupação que cada um de nós tem, enquanto ser moral e dotado de razão, pela justa e equitativa atribuição de direitos económicos e sociais a todos, obstando à existência de situações de desigualdade, fruto das condições económicas e sociais em que cada um nasce, vive e morre.
O mesmo princípio reflete igualmente a preocupação pela preservação da espécie humana e, no limite, pensamos nós, a preocupação pela dignidade da pessoa humana, apelando, por exemplo, ao combate à pobreza, ao direito para todos ao acesso à justiça, à preservação da natureza e do ambiente. A demonstração destas afirmações é um dos propósitos deste trabalho.
ABSTRACT: We consider the assumption that human beings are all born free, dignified and equal, and that this fact cannot be understood without equally considering the fact that all are moral beings gifted with reason; and without the consequent affirmation of equality among all. And nowadays, in modern and pluralistic societies, this statement sustains one of the most important bases of democratic claims: the attribution of a right to equal social and political freedom to all. Consequently, we also consider that the political organization of a contemporary society, if it intends to be fair and well-ordered, has a prior duty to its constitution, namely to choose the form of government and the establishment of its main institutions, and to definitively guarantee that right, based on principles of justice appropriate to that purpose. In his book A Theory of Justice, published in 1971, American philosopher John Rawls sustains that there are two principles of justice necessary for the establishment of a just and orderly political society: the first to guarantee the greatest individual freedom under equal circumstances with all others; and the second, to make it possible to reduce economic and social inequalities for the benefit of the most disadvantaged members of society. However, if the political liberalism, in which the first Rawlsian principle is framed, has several centuries of philosophical argument on which to lean, the same cannot be said of the second, which Rawls identifies as the principle of difference. We consider that the latter can only be properly apprehended and justified in a contemporary society that claims to be fair, democratic, and plural; and where there is awareness of the injustices that are caused by some initial inequality between people who should be considered equal. The principle of difference established (as was the first principle) from the original position of the parties during the deliberation on the societal pact, not only for equal attribution of economic and social rights, but also to prevent the existence of inequality situations – which are the result of the economic and social conditions in which each person is born, lives and dies. The same principle also reflects the concern for the preservation of the human species and ultimately, we think, the concern for the dignity of the human being, appealing, for example, for the fight against poverty, the right for all to access justice, the preservation of nature and of the environment. The demonstration of these statements is one of the purposes of this study.
ABSTRACT: We consider the assumption that human beings are all born free, dignified and equal, and that this fact cannot be understood without equally considering the fact that all are moral beings gifted with reason; and without the consequent affirmation of equality among all. And nowadays, in modern and pluralistic societies, this statement sustains one of the most important bases of democratic claims: the attribution of a right to equal social and political freedom to all. Consequently, we also consider that the political organization of a contemporary society, if it intends to be fair and well-ordered, has a prior duty to its constitution, namely to choose the form of government and the establishment of its main institutions, and to definitively guarantee that right, based on principles of justice appropriate to that purpose. In his book A Theory of Justice, published in 1971, American philosopher John Rawls sustains that there are two principles of justice necessary for the establishment of a just and orderly political society: the first to guarantee the greatest individual freedom under equal circumstances with all others; and the second, to make it possible to reduce economic and social inequalities for the benefit of the most disadvantaged members of society. However, if the political liberalism, in which the first Rawlsian principle is framed, has several centuries of philosophical argument on which to lean, the same cannot be said of the second, which Rawls identifies as the principle of difference. We consider that the latter can only be properly apprehended and justified in a contemporary society that claims to be fair, democratic, and plural; and where there is awareness of the injustices that are caused by some initial inequality between people who should be considered equal. The principle of difference established (as was the first principle) from the original position of the parties during the deliberation on the societal pact, not only for equal attribution of economic and social rights, but also to prevent the existence of inequality situations – which are the result of the economic and social conditions in which each person is born, lives and dies. The same principle also reflects the concern for the preservation of the human species and ultimately, we think, the concern for the dignity of the human being, appealing, for example, for the fight against poverty, the right for all to access justice, the preservation of nature and of the environment. The demonstration of these statements is one of the purposes of this study.
Description
Dissertação de Mestrado, Filosofia Contemporânea - Valores e Sociedade, 5 de fevereiro de 2020, Universidade dos Açores.
Keywords
John Rawls (1921-2002) Desigualdade Social Ética Social Filosofia Política Justiça Pensamento Político Princípio da Diferença Inequalities Justice Principle of Difference
Citation
Silva, Jorge Augusto Ferreira da. "Desigualdades entre iguais: o princípio rawlsiano da diferença". 2020. 106 p.. (Dissertação de Mestrado em Filosofia Contemporânea - Valores e Sociedade). Ponta Delgada: Universidade dos Açores, 2019. [Consult. Dia Mês Ano]. Disponível em www:<http://hdl.handle.net/10400.3/5419>.