Rawls, temporal discontinuity and disasters

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/dp.v22i3.100599

Keywords:

disaster, catastrophe, temporal discontinuity, justice, ethics

Abstract

This study aims to apply key concepts from Rawls’s theory of justice as fairness to issues of justice in the context of disasters and catastrophes. Disasters can be understood as a form of temporary discontinuity, whereas catastrophes involve a prolonged disruption of people’s normal lives. Whether an event becomes a disaster, a catastrophe, or neither depends on the degree of preparedness in place—preparedness that can prevent what Kant, in The Metaphysics of Morals, referred to as cases of necessity. This study argues, based on aspects of Rawls’s justice as fairness, that it is a requirement of justice for the state to adopt measures to mitigate temporal discontinuities and their harmful effects on the rational life plans of individuals understood as free and equal citizens.

Author Biography

Charles Feldhaus, UEL

Graduado em Filosofia - Bacharel (2002) - Licenciatura Plena (2003) - Mestre em Filosofia - área de concentração - Ética e Filosofia Política (2004) e Especialista em Biossegurança (2004) - pela Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Doutor em Filosofia - área de concentração - Ética e Filosofia Política - pela Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (2009). Pós-doutorado em filosofia pela Martin Luther Universität Halle Wittenberg (2015) com apoio financeiro da CAPES. Professor Associado C da Universidade Estadual de Londrina. É professor permanente do Programa de Pós-graduação em filosofia - Mestrado e Doutorado- da Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Atualmente é o coordenador do programa em pós-graduação mestrado e doutorado.

References

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Published

2026-02-23

How to Cite

Feldhaus, C. (2026). Rawls, temporal discontinuity and disasters . DoisPontos, 22(3). https://doi.org/10.5380/dp.v22i3.100599

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 3 (2025): Racionalidade e irracionalidade social

Section

Racionalidade e irracionalidade social

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Copyright (c) 2025 Charles Feldhaus

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