Detailed, Step-by-Step NCERT Solutions for 11 Political Science Chapter 14 Social Justice Questions and Answers were solved by Expert Teachers as per NCERT (CBSE) Book guidelines covering each topic in chapter to ensure complete preparation.
Social Justice NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 14
Social Justice Questions and Answers Class 11 Political Science Chapter 14
Question 1.
What does it mean to give each person his/her due? How has the meaning of “giving each his due” changed over time?
Answer:
There has been different meaning and understanding about the concept of justice in different points of time and in different socio, economic and political environment. The basic essential of the word justice has been view ‘jus’ which means just one’s due. But what is one’s due has been understood differently in different societies of different times.
For example, at one,point of time women enjoyed prime position in the society but afterwards they were denied that respectable ‘ place and were given the wretched place. Still in liberal, democratic and developmental world they are is search of their due place.
Now the essentials of the idea of justice have been enumerated like, truth, honesty, impartiality, equal opportunities, equal behaviour and fulfillment of basic needs. Plato sought and understood the situation of justice in the performance of each class, their respective duty in their own jurisdiction and non-interference in other’s matters.
Aristotle justified slaveiy on the basis of utility. Therefore he took justice in master doing the duty for the slave and servant doing his duty of serving the master. In desire concept of the right of the kings it was considered that it is the duty of the people to perform their religious duty by obeying the king.
In Marxist thinking the concept of justice undergone and the idea of one’s due place undergone change. He saw capitalist system based on injustice and give different essentials of justice. As a part of his scheme of justice he suggested collective ownerships the means of production and distribution and the minimum basic needs of each person should be fulfilled.
In the present age some other attributes of the concept of justice have been added. Justice today is explained not only in socio, economic basis but also moraj, psychological and spiritual and human sense also.
Question 2.
Briefly discuss the three principles of justice outlined in the chapter? Explain each with examples.
Answer:
As discussed above giving one’s due has been the cardinal principle of the idea of justice but what is one’s due has been viewed differently in different periods A number of different principles have been put toward in this regard, these are as under
- Equal treatment for equals
- Proportionate justice
- Recognition of special needs.
1. Equal Treatment for Equals
Equal treatment for equals is considered most important and essential principle of justice. It is considered rather accepted that individuals share certain characteristics as human beings, therefore everyone deserve equal treatment in similar conditions. Most of the areas in which we expect equality of treatments for all are 1. Civil rights i.e. availability of basic essentials on equal basis;
2. Political rights like right to vote and right to participate in the political processes; and
3. Social rights like equal behaviour and equality of access to basic needs in social matters. Another aspect of equal treatment for equals is that there should not be any discrimination against on the ground of class, caste, race or sex. Everybody should be judged on his/her work of talent and skill.
2. Proportionate Justice
Equality of treatment can be absolute, it has to be accepted and worked out on proportionate levels. We can say that every one needs equal treatment in all the conditions. Proportionate justice means rewarding people in proportion to the scale and quality of their efforts. The duties and rewards have to rationalised and defined. For real justice in the modern society the principle of equal treatment needs to be balanced with the principle of proportionality.
3. Recognition of Special Needs
Third important principle which is taken into account is the special needs of the people while distributing rewards and duties. Sometimes we have to take the corrective measures for the sake of justice and for the special treatment is given to some people. This is called as recognition of special needs.
This is also called as the balancing the imbalance. It does not violate the principle of equal treatment. It is sort of affirmative action. People may need special treatment due to some natural disabilities, although they may look unequal but for the sake of justice deserve special needs. People with all the privileges and people with deficiencies may need different behaviour and treatment. Deficient people will need special help.
Question 3.
Does the principle of considering the special needs of people conflict with the principle of equal treatment for all?
Answer:
The principle of considering the special needs of people may appearin conflict with the principle of equal treatment for all but when we look at the broader sense of the idea of justice, we conclude that the principle of giving special needs to one does not violate the principle of equal treatment for all.
Infact it is based on the principle distributive of justice. As a corrective measure we give special help to a person who is having disabilities and can be considered at par with the people standing in the treatment of equality for all. The principle of treating equals equally could imply that people who are not equal in certain important respects could be treated differently.
Physical disabilities, age, lack of access to good education or healthcare are some important factors which can be considered grounds for special treatment. If both the groups of people i.e. normal and handicaps are treated equal or alike, it would certainly lead to injustice hence if handicap people are given special help or some of their needs are fulfilled it will not be violations of justice rather it will fulfil the need of justice.
Question 4.
How does the Rawls use the idea of a veil of ignorance to argue that fair and just distribution can be defended on rational grounds?
Answer:
The merit of the ‘veil of ignorance’ position is that it expects people to just be their usual rational salver. They are expected to think for themselves and choose what they regard to be in their interest. They choose under the veil of ignorance, they will find that it is in their interest to think from the position of the worst off.
It is therefore first step in arriving at a system of fair laws and policies. The rational persons will not only see things from the perspective of the worst off. They will also try to make it sure that the policies they frame benefit the society as a whole. Since nobody knows, what position they would occupy in future society, they decide such rules that protect them if they happen to be bom among the worst off.
Therefore it is in the interests of all that society as a whole should be benefitted from the rules and policies that are decided and not for any particular section. Such fairness would be the outcome of rational action not benevolence or generosity.
Rawls therefore argues that it is rational thinking and not morality could lead us to be fair and judge impartially regarding how to distribute the benefits and burden of a society. It is this generalisation which makes Rawl’s theory an important and compelling way to approach the question of fairness and justice.
Question 5.
What are generally considered to be the basic minimum requirements of people for living a healthy and productive life? What is the responsibility of governments in trying to ensure this minimum to all?
Answer:
A society is considered unjust when the gulf between the haves and havesnot is so big which put them in different world in terms of access to consume minimum basic needs.
Therefore ajust society should provide people with the basic minimum conditions to enable them to live healthy and secure lives and develop their talents as well as equal opportunities to pursue their chosen goal in society.
To devise the basic minimum conditions of life needed by people, various methods of calculating the basic needs of people have been devised by different governments and by international organisations like WHO and NS$. These needs pertain to health, housing, clean drinking water0 education and minimum wages etc.
Providing people with their basic needs is considered to be one of the responsibilities of a democratic government. Today’s state is welfare state therefore becomes more pertinent for a democratic government to improve the living conditions of people by providing minimum basic needs.
Question 6.
Which of the following arguments could be used to justify state action to provide basic minimum conditions of life to all citizens?
a. Providing free services to the poor and needy can be justified as an act of charity.
b. Providing all citizens with a basic minimum standard of living is one way of ensuring equality of opportunity.
c. Some people are naturally lazy and we should be kind to them.
d. Ensuring a basic facilities and a minimum standard of living to all is a recognition of our shared humanity and a human right.
Answer:
Statement ‘b’ and ‘d’ could be used to justify State action to provide basic minimum conditions of life.
‘b’ Providing all citizens with a basic minimum standard of living is one way of ensuring equality of opportunity.
‘d’ Ensuring a basic facilities and a minimum standard of living to all is a recognition of our shared humanity and human right.