A Theory of Justice in Light of Ecology

Abstract

In the 1970s, John Rawls, in A Theory of Justice, defended a political philosophy based on equality. From the original position and behind the veil of ignorance, the parties in this process would result in a Constitutional Convention. This hypothetical device sought to ensure reasonable conditions for citizens to build a new social contract based on principles of justice. Ecological demands, which also emerged around the same time as Rawls' theory, gradually spread, showing that today a new pact is not feasible without considering the environmental crisis we are experiencing. Thus, the article starts from the premise that the principle of environmental preservation must inevitably guide a new theory of justice. The analysis of justice theory in light of contemporary ecological demands is the objective of this work, using a qualitative approach and the hypothetical-deductive method.