John Rawls: A Theory of Justice

 

Name of the Book: Contemporary Moral Problems

Library Reference: N/A

Amazon Link:    

 

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=

contemporary+moral+problems&x=0&y=0

 

 

Quote:

 

“All social values-liberty and opportunity income and wealth and the basis of self respect are to be distributed equally unless an unequal distribution of any or all of these values is to everyone’s advantage.”

 

Learning Expectations:

 

1.       To know the theory of Justice.

2.       To know what is the view of Rawls with Justice.

3.       To know the main idea of theory of justice.

4.       To know the two principles of Justice.

5.       To know the connection or the relation of the two principle to one another.

 

Review:

 

The first principle of justice  according to Rawl’s states that “Each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar system of liberty for all”. Meaning we must be treated equally and we must know how to treat equally not only to others but as well as to all aspects of life. Because according to him “First Priority Rule (The Priority of Liberty): The principles of justice are to be ranked in lexical order [i.e. one higher in the list is to be satisfied before the next is applied - as in a lexicon or dictionary all words beginning with A come before all those beginning with B] and therefore liberty can be restricted only for the sake of liberty.”

“The second principle is also called the difference principle, and it specifies how economic advantages should be distributed. It has two parts. Firstly, there is the difference principle proper, the principle for the distribution of acquired wealth in society. This is basically the principle to regulate taxation and redistribution. The second part of the second principle is the principle of equal opportunity. It regulates access to coveted social positions - basically jobs and positions of authority”” I think both must be prioritized that’s why it is not applicable that both can be sacrified.

            Rawls says that the rules of justice are chosen in an Original Position, behind a 'veil of ignorance' that conceals from the parties facts about themselves (sex, age, physical strength etc) that might be envisaged in attempts to tailor the rules to give some a systematic advantage. Meaning there are times that we individual tend to act as if we don’t know what we are doing, we tend to teach ourselves to be blind and to ignorant in someway with regards to justifications of the rules. And if we were going o relate it in our society we can say that very few individual does know this because majority doesn’t aware or know about it.

           

Learning’s/Insights:

 

·         “The first principle of justice involves equal basic liberties.”

·         “The second principle of justice concerns on the arrangement of the social and economic benefits.”

·         “Rational and free people must accept the two principles in a hypothetical original position where there is a veil ignorance hiding from the contractors all the particular facts about themselves.”

 

 

Integrative Questions:

 

1.       What is theory of justice is all about?

2.       What is the main idea of the theory of justice?

3.       What is the first principle is all about?

4.       What is the second principle is all about?

5.       What is the view of Rawls about justice?

 

 

Review Questions:

 

1. Carefully explain Rawl’s conception of the original position.

 

Rawls says that the rules of justice are chosen in an Original Position, behind a 'veil of ignorance' that conceals from the parties facts about themselves (sex, age, physical strength etc) that might be envisaged in attempts to tailor the rules to give some a systematic advantage. Meaning there are times that we individual tend to act as if we don’t know what we are doing, we tend to teach ourselves to be blind and to ignorant in someway with regards to justifications of the rules. And if we were going o relate it in our society we can say that very few individual does know this because majority doesn’t aware or know about it.

 

2. State and Explain Rawl’s first principle of Justice.

 

The first principle of justice  according to Rawl’s states that “Each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar system of liberty for all”. Meaning we must be treated equally and we must know how to treat equally not only to others but as well as to all aspects of life. Because according to him “First Priority Rule (The Priority of Liberty): The principles of justice are to be ranked in lexical order [i.e. one higher in the list is to be satisfied before the next is applied - as in a lexicon or dictionary all words beginning with A come before all those beginning with B] and therefore liberty can be restricted only for the sake of liberty.”

                                                                                                          

 

3. State and Explain the second principle. Which principle has priority such that it cannot be sacrificed?

 

“The second principle is also called the difference principle, and it specifies how economic advantages should be distributed. It has two parts. Firstly, there is the difference principle proper, the principle for the distribution of acquired wealth in society. This is basically the principle to regulate taxation and redistribution. The second part of the second principle is the principle of equal opportunity. It regulates access to coveted social positions - basically jobs and positions of authority”” I think both must be prioritized that’s why it is not applicable that both can be sacrified.

 

Discussion Questions:

 

1. On the first principle, each person has an equal right to the most extensive basic liberty as long as this does not interfere with similar liberty for others. What does this allow to do?

 

It allows each individual in the community or in the society to weight and to know the goodness and the badness of a certain act which we cannot deny the fact most of the times happening.

 

2. Is it possible for free and rational persons in the original position to agree upon different principles than those given by Rawls?

 

Yes. But it really depends on how a person is rational, knowledgeable and capable enough to what he/she believes in.