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ABSTRACT
In the present, one of the major problems plaguing the Nigerian society is that of social justice. And great thinkers from time immemorial have attempted to discuss the meaning of and the need for social justice in a society like Nigeria. But recently, a contemporary American social and political thinker, John Rawls, is his advocacy for social justice, is very vocal in the need and eventual formation of the social theory concept. Thus, this paper attempts to give a philosophical critique of Rawls’ conception and the necessity of the application of his social justice theory in the Nigerian political landscape. This work does not intend to present Rawls’ position as the most logical, perfect social and political arguments in the consideration of social justice. But it intends to point out some defects about Rawls’ social justice. But the main consideration shall be on the need and relevance of it to the Nigerian nation. In this way, it shall effectively point to the evils that can accompany its negligence. John Rawls, the 20th century American philosopher espoused these cardinal principles in his unique conception of justice, a conception he uniquely coined “justice as fairness” which greatly coveys the indubitable truth that the principles of justice as the basic structure and pivot of society are determined in an original setting or situation of liberty and equality. Through his theory of justice, Rawls made concerted efforts to resolve the arduous challenges of distributive and social justice which craved and clamored for the fair and equitable distribution of goods and services in the society. This paper philosophically appraises John Rawls theory of justice and tries to show its relevance to contemporary Nigerian democracy, a democracy that has been bedeviled by numerous challenges of various proportions and magnitudes. The paper posits that Rawls theory of justice can copiously be incorporated and mainstreamed into contemporary Nigerian democracy to give it a humane and humanistic face for the overall benefit of the citizenry.
