Political Philosophy: Justice, Liberty, and Social Contract Theory

Abstract

This article examines central debates in political philosophy concerning justice, liberty, rights, and political authority. It traces the development of social contract theory from Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau to Rawls’s contractualism, emphasizing the original position, the veil of ignorance, and the difference principle. The article also contrasts Rawlsian egalitarianism with Nozick’s libertarian critique, explores Berlin’s distinction between negative and positive liberty, and situates contemporary discussions within broader debates on multicultural justice, global justice, deliberative democracy, recognition politics, and AI governance.