Commutative, Distributive and Procedural Justice - What Does it Mean, What Does it Matter?

Abstract

In this paper, I revisit an argument that two distinctions, traditionally drawn in a theory of justice, between commutative and distributive, and between procedural and substantive justice, are misleading, and that properly understood, "commutative justice" derives from, or is reducible to, "distributive justice", while "procedural justice" derives from, or is reducible to, "substantive justice". In reviewing these two dichotomies I consider the arguments from a duty of promise-keeping, from voluntariness, and from moral pluralism, and I contend that they are incapable of undermining the position I had originally put forward.

Keywords: justice, commutative justice, procedural justice, distributive justice, Rawls

JEL Classification: K10, K30