Final answer:
Exploring Distributive Justice entails evaluating how societies allocate resources, influenced by philosophical theories like John Rawls' Difference Principle and Libertarianism, as well as historical perspectives, such as Plato's functional specialization for societal harmony.
Step-by-step explanation:
When questioning whether a society is just, we delve into the concept of Distributive Justice. This philosophical inquiry involves examining how society allocates resources like wealth, goods, and services. A society's concern for justice reflects in its distribution principles, which range from allocations based on need to those upholding personal freedom, despite potential inequalities.
Philosophers, such as John Rawls, have significant contributions to this discourse. Rawls posits two principles in his Theory of Justice: the principle of equal basic liberties and the Difference Principle, suggesting that inequalities are permissible only if they benefit the least well off. On the contrary, Libertarian views, by figures such as Nozick, advocate for minimal state intervention, emphasizing individual entitlement to the results of one's labor and market transactions, regardless of broader socioeconomic disparities.
Additionally, Plato's perspective on justice, both on individual and societal levels, argues for a functional specialization where each class contributes to a harmonious and just society. This dialogue emphasizes the moral and philosophical depths in understanding what constitutes a just society beyond mere distribution of material goods.