john rawls

theory of justice, veil of ignorance, difference principal, consent/obligation

rawl’s theory of justice

involves:

• supporting least advantaged

• opposing universalizing laws

• motive and doing things simply because they are good

difference principal

inequalities are only fair if they benefit the least advantaged (achieves equity)

veil of ignorance

• a hypothetical state in which a decision-maker does not know where they stand in a society, and thus they make the most just decisions as if they were in a disadvantaged position.

• out of this, overwhelmingly beneficial things arise such as religious tolerance.

consent & obligation

obligation often arises as a result of consent, but true consent is sometimes jeopardized because of coercion or an imbalance of knowledge

fair contracts arise from…

1. autonomy

2. reciprocity

key rawlsian belief

in order to achieve justice, the disadvantaged ought to be prioritized in society.

rawls’s social contract

includes:

1. veil of ignorance

2. difference principal