The primary subject of the principles of social justice is the basic structure of society—its major … — John Rawls

The primary subject of the principles of social justice is the basic structure of society—its major social institutions viewed as a single cooperative scheme—and these institutional principles must be clearly distinguished from the principles that govern individual actions in particular circumstances.

By John Rawls, from A Theory of Justice

Key Arguments

Rawls explicitly identifies the target of social justice: "The primary subject of the principles of social justice is the basic structure of society, the arrangement of major social institutions into one scheme of cooperation."
He states that these principles "are to govern the assignment of rights and duties in these institutions and they are to determine the appropriate distribution of the benefits and burdens of social life," tying social justice to institutional roles and distributions.
He insists on a subject‑matter distinction: "The principles of justice for institutions must not be confused with the principles which apply to individuals and their actions in particular circumstances. These two kinds of principles apply to different subjects and must be discussed separately," arguing that conflating them would blur analysis of justice.

Source Quotes

The primary subject of the principles of social justice is the basic structure of society, the arrangement of major social institutions into one scheme of cooperation. We have seen that these principles are to govern the assignment of rights and duties in these institutions and they are to determine the appropriate distribution of the benefits and burdens of social life.

The primary subject of the principles of social justice is the basic structure of society, the arrangement of major social institutions into one scheme of cooperation. We have seen that these principles are to govern the assignment of rights and duties in these institutions and they are to determine the appropriate distribution of the benefits and burdens of social life. The principles of justice for institutions must not be confused with the principles which apply to individuals and their actions in particular circumstances.

We have seen that these principles are to govern the assignment of rights and duties in these institutions and they are to determine the appropriate distribution of the benefits and burdens of social life. The principles of justice for institutions must not be confused with the principles which apply to individuals and their actions in particular circumstances. These two kinds of principles apply to different subjects and must be discussed separately.

The principles of justice for institutions must not be confused with the principles which apply to individuals and their actions in particular circumstances. These two kinds of principles apply to different subjects and must be discussed separately. Now by an institution I shall understand a public system of rules which defines offices and positions with their rights and duties, powers and immunities, and the like.

Key Concepts

The primary subject of the principles of social justice is the basic structure of society, the arrangement of major social institutions into one scheme of cooperation.
these principles are to govern the assignment of rights and duties in these institutions and they are to determine the appropriate distribution of the benefits and burdens of social life.
The principles of justice for institutions must not be confused with the principles which apply to individuals and their actions in particular circumstances.
These two kinds of principles apply to different subjects and must be discussed separately.

Context

Opening of §10, where Rawls restates the focus of his theory on the basic structure and clarifies the difference between institutional principles of justice and principles for individual conduct.