Rawls' Theory of Justice: A Summary

Rawls' Hypothetical Social Contract

  • Core Idea: The fundamental principles of justice are determined through a hypothetical agreement among rational, self-interested individuals in an original position of equality.
  • Original Position:
    • Characterized by a veil of ignorance.
    • Conditions of ignorance:
      • Talents and abilities.
      • Social position.
      • Individual preferences and psychological traits.
      • Physical attributes.
      • General convictions.
      • Age and gender.
      • Conceptions of the good life.
    • Knowledge:
      • General facts about human society.
      • Political affairs.
      • Principles of economic theory.
      • Basis of social organization.
      • Laws of human psychology.
  • Purpose of the Veil of Ignorance: To ensure impartiality in the selection of justice principles.
  • Outcome: Selection of principles that guarantee equality in the pursuit of primary goods.
  • Primary Goods:
    • Rights and liberties.
    • Powers and opportunities.
    • Income and wealth.
    • Self-respect.

Two Principles of Justice

  • First Principle (Equal Liberty Principle):
    • Each person has an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties, compatible with a similar system for all.
  • Second Principle: Social and economic inequalities are permissible if they satisfy two conditions:
    • (a) Difference Principle: They are to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged, consistent with the just savings principle.
      • Just Savings Principle: Obligation to future generations (e.g., conserving natural resources).
    • (b) Fair Equality of Opportunity: They are attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity.
  • Priority: The first principle (liberty) has priority over the second (social and economic equality).
    • Liberty can only be restricted for the sake of greater liberty, not for social or economic gains.
  • Justification of Inequalities: Inequalities in power, wealth, and resources are only justifiable if they benefit the worst-off members of society.
    • No greater disadvantage for the worst-off can be justified by a greater advantage for the better-off.
  • Lifting the Veil: Once basic principles are agreed upon, the veil of ignorance is gradually lifted to allow for more specific knowledge relevant to applying the principles to concrete situations and choosing secondary principles.

Critique of Rawls' Ethics

  • Communitarianism: Rawls' ethics is rooted in communitarianism.
    • Political philosophy that prioritizes the community (society) over the individual.
    • Society is viewed as an organic entity, a cooperative scheme where no individual fully deserves what they own or who they are.
  • Implications: Justifies progressive taxation and affirmative action plans.
  • Criticisms from the Right (Libertarian - Robert Nozick):
    • Excessive government powers and violation of individual rights.
  • Criticisms from the Left (Socialist - Robert Paul Wolff):
    • False assumption of social cooperation; society is based on class struggle.
  • Workability of the Veil of Ignorance: Questions about the practicality of voting from behind the veil of ignorance.
  • Cautious Psychology: Doubts about the assumption of cautious psychology in choosing the maximin principle.
    • Would parties in the original position take more risks, rather than assuming they could be in the lowest rank of society?