Abstract: Regarding the distribution of justice,though both Rawls and Nozick approved the importance of justice,Rawls more emphasized equality.Through the hypothesis of “original position” and with the aid of the two principles of justice,he relieved the “ignorance veil” so that the least beneficiary could be compensated and equality obtained.Nozicks thought that the most important question was not equality,but the sacred right.He refuted Rawls’ theory of justice distribution through “minimal state” and with the aid of “principle of justice maintenance”.Though these two arguments differed greatly,they all concerned about the priority of freedom and equality in the economic domain.The two views revealed the contradiction between freedom and equality in western society,and they were significant in our construction of a harmonious society.

Key words: justice, original position, different principles, the minimal state