ABSTRACT
To ensure social justice we need a theoretical understanding of how this moral imperative can be interpreted and operationalized. Arguably, the most influential text on social justice is Theory of Justice by John Rawls. He argues that people in ‘the original position’ would choose two principles of justice: equal liberty for all, and equal opportunities and fair distribution of primary goods. These principles guide the basic structure of society. Recent research has extended, but also challenged, Rawls’ justice principles. We use these principles to argue for two key sustainability themes on social justice: ensuring rich participation and fair distribution.
