The Basic Principles and Value Dimensions of Achieving Distributive Justice through Social Institutions

Abstract

To achieve the value goal of distributive justice, human society turns to the rational design and organization of social institutions. The construction of social institutions aimed at distributive justice should observe the following principles: equal opportunity, equal distribution of benefits and obligations, rational distribution criteria and procedures, and rectification of injustices. Social institutions established on these principles demonstrate inherent fairness and can ensure that social resources are distributed in an equitable way. For social institutions to ensure distributive justice is of great practical significance because this helps society integrate individuals’ singular intentionality of pursuing distributive justice into a collective intentionality that fosters a social perspective on investigating distributive justice, establishes an egalitarian concept of distributive justice, and provides more effective protection for acts promoting distributive justice and stronger sanctions for acts undermining it. This maintains and enhances the interests of both advantaged and disadvantaged groups in distribution.