An American political and ethical philosopher in the liberal tradition and is widely considered to be the most important political philosopher of the 20th century.
John Rawls
One of the most important interests of Rawls is to answer the problem of
social justice
Rawls wanted to have a principle that could be an alternative for utilitarianism and intuitionism. Rawls does not agree with utilitarianism because for him it disregard the notion of justice by __________.
Teaching that sacrificing the interest of minority for the advantage of the majority is morally right.
In Rawls tenet, neglecting the rights and interest of the minority is unjust as much as it is unjust to neglect the rights and interest of the majority.
Plato "justice is internal harmony."
Aristotle "justice is equality"
Rawls "justice is _________"
fairness
A just society for Rawls does not only distributes the benefit and rights but also the burdens and responsibilities.
TRUE or FALSE
TRUE
A just society for Rawls is a society in which...
1. everyone accepts and knows that the others accept the same principles of justice.
2. basic institutions generally satisfy and are generally known to satisfy these principles.
TRUE or FALSE
Rawls highly acknowledge that there exist different interest as people " pursue their ends they each prefer a larger to a lesser share."
TRUE
TRUE or FALSE
To resolve multiple conflicts of interests, Rawls finds the importance of developing principles of justice which could become a just social contract, which is not only acceptable for the majority but for all.
True
A just society do not distribute the benefit and burdens in a way that is fair to all parties or member of society. It only distribute the benefit and rights but not the responsibilities.
False.
A just society distributes the benefit and responsibilities in a way that is fair for all.
The thought experiment introduce by Rawls.
the original position
What is a thought experiment?
A device use in philosophy and theoretical physics that engages our imagination and intellect to investigate and speculate the consequence of a certain principle.
It does not use physical experiment rather uses conceptual or imaginative experiment.
In the Original Position Rawls imagines people or parties involved to be _________, ________ and ________.
free,mutually disinterested,and rational
What did Rawls meant by people being "free" to form and choose the principles for a well-ordered society.
Parties need to be autonomous in their decisions, they are neither subdued nor intimidated.
What did Rawls meant by people being "mutually disinterested" to form and choose the principles for a well-ordered society.
Any party's only concern is to advance their own interest but not in a selfish egoistic way. This means that they will not allow to be taken advantage of.
What did Rawls meant by people being "rational" to form and choose the principles for a well-ordered society.
people should decide rationally in order to use the most effective means to setup a just society by agreeing upon principles of justice that are fair for all.
(they think carefully)
This refers to what the party should know and should not know while performing the tasks of formulating principles of justice that applies for all.
Constraints of knowledge
Under the veil of ignorance one must follow this criterion of
not knowing his place in the society,his class or social status, nor does anyone know his fortune in the distribution of natural assets and abilities, his intelligence, strength and the like.
"I shall even assume that parties do not know their conceptions of good or their special psychological propensities."Rawls,2005 p.11
TRUE or FALSE
Under the veil of ignorance, the parties still know the general social and scientific facts, they just don't know their position in the society and anything that could influence their decision making.
True
The parties in the original position must be equal,they have the same rights, and each can make proposals.
TRUE or FALSE
True
Principles of justice is must be understood as law or constitution but not a basis of all forms of laws including fundamental law of the land,the constitution.
TRUE or FALSE
False.
Principles of justice is NOT to be understood as a law or constitution but rather a BASIS of all forms of law
For the principles of justice to be fair they should call under the two principles:
1.Principle of liberty
2.Principle of equality
What is the principle of liberty?
1.Each person is to have an EQUAL RIGHTS to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar system of liberty for all
What is the principle of equality?
2. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES ARE TO BE ARRANGED so that they are : (
a. the greatest benefit are to the least advantaged, (consistent with the just saving principle)
b.attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity
TRUE or FALSE
Liberalism led to individualism and inequalities in various aspects of human life. But Rawls believe that liberty and equality are two concepts that are reconcilable.
TRUE
TRUE or FALSE
Justice as fairness then "does not allow that the sacrifices imposed on a few are outweighed by the larger sum of advantages enjoyed by many
TRUE
The thought experiment lead John Rawls to prove that w society does not need to sacrifice the minority in order to save the majority.
TRUE or FALSE
True
This will ensure that no one is
to be taken advantaged by anybody and no one will reap and enjoy benefits at the expense
of another.
TRUE or FALSE
A just society ensures that the greatest benefits are available for all parties while social obligations and burdens are also well distributed to everyone
True
TRUE or FALSE
Rawls democratic ideal is a democracy for all
and not only for the majority.
TRUE
Rawls believes that “Each person possesses an inviolability
founded on justice that even the welfare of society as a whole cannot override.” (Rawls: p.3)