Understanding Michael Walzer’s Spheres of Justice & Communitarianism
Michael Walzer and Spheres of Justice
Communitarianism
Inspired by the “paradigm of the community,” communitarianism questions the foundations of the liberal universalist project. It posits that individuals are shaped by their history and social context, unlike the abstract, transcendental subject often assumed in liberal thought. Liberalism acknowledges the difficulty of providing a universal ethical justification, prioritizing justice over virtue.
Purpose of Justice in the Liberal Tradition
The liberal tradition aims for a rational agent who chooses based on their interests and transcends social and personal constraints.
Main Thesis
Given the inherent differences among human beings, a simple view of equality is insufficient. Therefore, only complex equality can be defended. Human society is fundamentally a community of distribution.
The Theory of Property
- The objects of distributive justice have diverse meanings.
- All objects of distributive justice are considered social goods.
- The range of human needs is extensive and variable. Each distinct social good or set of social goods constitutes a separate area of distribution.
Dominance and Monopoly
Dominance: The ability to leverage one type of social good to access another.
Monopoly: A single entity effectively controls a particular social good, excluding rivals.
Simple vs. Complex Equality
Simple Equality: Not defined in the text.
Complex Equality: Distributing goods in a way that prevents dominance. It means that no citizen’s standing in one sphere (related to a particular social good) is undermined by their position in another, distinct sphere.
Spheres of Justice
The separate spheres of justice can be viewed as small republics governing different aspects of people’s lives.
Critics of Paul Ricoeur
Ricoeur highlights the paradox of politics: the political sphere has a unique nature, encompassing other spheres. It addresses the challenge of power, attempting to reconcile the interests of all and the individual. It acts as a guardian and arbiter, mitigating hazards such as:
- Domination
- Power limitation and shared power
Walzer acknowledges the interrelationships between different spheres of justice, countering critics who claim he advocates for indiscriminate movement between them.
Distribution Criteria
Each sphere is governed by a distinct approach to distribution.
Idea of Justice
- Stratified Justice
- Differential Functional Justice
“A fair society is essential if life is lived in a manner faithful to the shared notions of its members.” Justice is rooted in shared understandings of places, honors, work, and things of all kinds, reflecting a shared way of life.
The challenge of equality lies in preventing the market’s logic from dominating other areas of social life. Social justice respects the limits and autonomy of different spheres of distribution.
Modern Society
Modern society is characterized by functional differentiation and social systems with distinct operating logics. This organizational structure differs from stratified societies like medieval Europe or colonial America, which were based on rigid ranks.
Functional Inequality
Functional inequality impacts individuals through inclusion and exclusion. The more developed functional systems become, the more they tend to reproduce their own elements, reinforcing the conditions that ensure their continued existence.