Politics Essay: Liberalism

Explain the liberal view of justice

The liberal theory of justice is based on a belief in equality of various kinds. The liberal belief in individualism implies a commitment to foundational equality, where human beings are born equal with each individual being of equal moral worth. This idea is embodied in the notion of natural rights. Foundational equality implies a belief in formal equality and the idea that individuals should enjoy the same formal status in society.

The most important forms of formal equality are legal and political equality. Legal equality emphasizes equality before the law and insists that all non-legal factors be irrelevant to the process of legal decision making. Political equality is embodied in the idea of ‘one person, one vote’ and underpins the liberal commitment to democracy.

Liberals subscribe to a belief in equality of opportunity, where every individual has the same chance to rise or fall in society. Liberals believe social equality is undesirable because people aren’t born the same but possess different talents and skills and some are prepared to work harder than others. Equality means that individuals should have an equal opportunity to develop their unequal skills and abilities.

Liberals believe it is right to reward merit, ability and willingness to work harder than others. This lead to a belief in meritocracy where inequalities of wealth and social position solely reflect the unequal distribution of merit or skills amongst human beings. A meritocratic society is socially just because individuals are judged by their talents and willingness to work rather than gender or race. Social equality is unjust because it treats unlike individuals alike.

Classic liberals believe justice requires that unequal individuals are not treated equally. Modern liberals also have taken social justice to imply a belief in some measure of social equality.