Final answer:
Libertarian understandings of social justice emphasize freedom from coercion and individual liberty, advocating for minimal governmental interference to protect unalienable rights. Alternative views, such as Marxism and theories by Rawls and Nussbaum, focus on equitable distribution and collective care to achieve social justice.
Step-by-step explanation:
Libertarian understandings of social justice argue that freedom from coercion by others is the most central element of social justice. Libertarians uphold the principle of non-coercion and see aggressive and coercive force as a threat to the principles of freedom. They advocate for a political system that maximizes individual liberty and protects individual rights, arguing that the use of force, if permissible by a regime, is an infringement upon an individual's right to life, liberty, property, self-governance or belief. This aligns with the libertarian notion that government authority should be restricted to ensure the protection of unalienable rights, which uphold autonomous principles.
Comparatively, Marxism places emphasis on an equitable distribution of resources, where social justice is considered manifest when economic contributions and resources are distributed properly, without discrimination. Meanwhile, scholars like Rawls and Nussbaum suggest that a just society involves cooperation and a collective obligation to care for each other, ensuring human dignity and the well-being of all citizens.