Justice in Hobbes’ and Rawls’ Ideologies and the Quest for Social Order in Africa: A Philosophical Reflection

Abstract

Some views of justice mainly the social contract model of Thomas Hobbes, and the fairness model of Rawls may have failed to challenge and overcome the peculiar ideological and value-laden character of an African environment, thus creating the impetus for reconsideration. The social contract model of justice assumed that there would be justice when people acting as rational agents accepted basic practices of society that would assure their mutual advantage in the long run. The impartiality or fairness model of justice, suggests the recognition of the intrinsic worth of people as entities deserving of respect, whose interests should be maintained in the interest of the overall common good. How do these theories apply to the African condition? These issues will be the thrust of this paper as we argue that the two models are not enough in solving the multifarious problems that Africa finds herself. These will be examined succinctly in arguing for the latent solution towards a sustainable social order that considers and puts everyone and the society towards attaining justice and development.