Equality, justice and liberty (and all of their meanings)

Each of the authors we have read thus far (Hobbes, Locke, Marx, and now Rawls) each have a unique understanding of these ideas of equality, justice and liberty. According to Hobbes, individuals are equal in the state of nature because they are able to freely compete and preserve themselves through any means. Liberty similarly exists in the natural absence of impediment on one's freedom fulfill their needs. Justice, on the other hand, can only exist under the social contract and therefore pushing individuals into join society. 

In comparison, Locke understands equality as a result of no one having power over another. There are two types of liberty for Locke: natural and social, the first pertaining to only being ruled by the laws of nature and the second to be free from rule under any government except that founded by the consent of the commonwealth. The government resulting from the social contract upholds justice, which to Locke, means protecting personal property and liberty. Marx is of course, far more critical of the ideas of equality, justice and liberty, understanding each as a false promise under the capitalist state and only truly existing under communism.

Rawls, in his A Theory of Justice, again discusses these three ideas. Unlike the others, Rawls believes both equality and liberty are the result of the state of justice. His principle of justice as fairness results from individuals beginning in the "original position" in which they can decide (without any subjective ideas) what is just and what is not. This ultimately results in a society that guarantees basic liberties (compatible with liberties for all others) and only allows social and economic inequalities to exist if to benefit the least advantaged.

All of these concepts (freedom, equality, justice) are in fact the foundation of our American society. Although our notion of these principles do not align exactly with any of these philosophers, each offer an aspect that has been combined into our cultural understanding and how we work to uphold these ideals.