Churnosov, I. M. Ronald Dworkin’s Theory of Justice

Abstract: People begun to wonder about justice since the very moment when philosophy was created. It is not by accident that one of the most famous Plato’s dialogues starts with the question about justice. However, in the middle of the 20th century touching upon the topic of justice during discussions was considered bad manners just like to bang the table with the fist. It became quite clear that what was just and fair for someone, could not be just and fair for the other. Then all of the sudden John Rawls’ ‘A Theory of Justice’ was published. In his book Rawls proved that there could have been a common concept of justice. That evoked interest towards the matter. Ronald Dworkin was one of those who participated in the discussion. The present article is devoted to the critical analysis of the theory of justice offered by Dworkin. In order to analyze the aforesaid concept, the author of the research article uses the method offered by Dworkin – the so called ‘constructive interpretation’. The purpose of the method is to show an object in the best light (supposedly, as the best theory of justice). Consequently, all disadvantages are viewed as the result of internal contradictions in the theory. Along with the concept offered by John Rawls, Ronald Dworkin’s theory of justice is one of the most powerful in the sphere of the political and legal thought in the West. Everyone who cares for justice in general has to choose whether to accept or deny this concept.

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