On the Future of the Justice Debates

Abstract

ing from the process of deciding upon rights does not deprive a theory of substantive democracy of all practical significance or confine it to the ivory tower. It can still be in the political game. If such a theory gives compelling reasons for including distributive justice within our democratic ideals, it could be a potent political force in a manner akin to the demo cratic impulses in previous waves of democratization. Consider democracy itself. The idea of democracy on a large scale was a political improbability, if not a political impossibility, judging from the standpoint of European history from 476 CE. to the American Revolution. But democracy grew and grew because it was a meaningful idea. The right to equal shares of part of national income could also have practical force, if it too is a meaningful idea; however, if that proves to be the case, one would expect that it too take some time to be absorbed by the people. The right to equal shares of part of national income could also have practi cal force, ifit too is a meaningful idea; however, if that proves to be the case, one would expect that it too take some time to be absorbed by the people.