Abstract

The essay maps the notion of conflict in Rawls' "Theory of Justice", in order to highlight contradictions and problems that Rawls aims at resolving through the notions of "veil of ignorance " and "reflective equilibrium ". The author demonstrates that the Rawlsian solution to the problem of social peace is characterized by a paradox, rooted in the epistemological features of "A Theory of Justice": Rawls strongly rejects the idea that societies are founded upon a substantive idea of the Good but, in order to engender consent around the principles of justice, he is forced to posit the idea of a reciprocal willingness to understand the others' reasons. This idea tends to interpret in a semplified way the nature and quality of social relationships.