Abstract

VACA, Moisés. Is Rawls's Theory of Justice Exclusively Forward-Looking? On the Importance of Rectifying Past Political Violence. Tópicos (México) [online]. 2013, n.45, pp.299-330. ISSN 0188-6649.

In this paper I address an objection to the claim that Rawls's theory is to show concern for historical injustice. This objection states that such a theory is justified in avoiding concern for historical injustice because of its putative forward-looking character. The objection takes two forms: first, it is argued that there are reasons internal to Rawls's own theory, such as the choice problem modelled by the original position as well as the fact that jus-tice-as-fairness is thought of to be a non-comprehensive conception of justice, which warrant such a putative forward-looking character. Second, it also claimed that there are reasons external to Rawls's theory, having to do with the putative existence of the so-called non-identity problem, which warrant an exclusive forward-looking character not only to Rawls's principles of justice but to any other conception of distributive justice. I will try to show that the stated objection, both in its internal and external presentations, fails.

Keywords : Historical Injustice; Rawls; Liberal Theory; Ideal Theory; Parfit; Non-Identity Problem.