Principles Of A Just Society Flashcards
(41 cards)
Thinking about political principles for free, equal and rational persons:
- Rational
- Equal as moral persons
- Mutually disinterested
They will always take the most effective means to given ends
Rational
Their ends and conceptions of the good are equally valued
They all have the same rights in the procedure for choosing principles (make proposal, submit reasons for their acceptance, and so on)
Equal as moral persons
They don’t take an interest in one another’s interests
Mutually disinterested
Two components of a theory of justice
- Method
- Principles
Interpretation of the initial situation, the choice to be decided on, and how to decide
Method
A set of principles which would be agreed to using the method
Principles
- equivalent of the state of nature
- a thought experiment
The Original Position
A hypothetical description about the (mental) state you should put yourself in to decide the principle of justice
equivalent of the state of nature
not an actual historical state of affairs or primitive condition of culture
A thought experiment
An imaginary “curtain” you step behind, which puts people in the Original Position
It removes all knowledge of how various alternatives will affect one’s particular case
No one knows their:
Do know:
The veil of ignorance
place in society,
class position or social status,
fortune in the distribution of natural assets and abilities, intelligence, strength, etc.,
conceptions of the good,
special psychological propensities
the economic, political, cultural, or industrial situation of our society
the generation they belong to
No one knows their:
their society is subject to circumstances of justice
general facts about human societies such as:
Do know:
general facts about human societies such as:
- politic affairs,
- principles of economic theory,
- basis of social organization,
- laws of human psychology,
- whatever else affects the choice of principles of justice
Why use the veil of ignorance and the original position?
- Together, puts people in the position to decide the principles of justice
- Must correct for the arbitrariness of the world
- Makes sure people will choose principles that won’t give anyone advantage or disadvantage based on the outcomes of natural chance or contingent social circumstances
- Removes knowledge of how the various alternatives will affect their own particular case, so no one can choose in their favor
- Makes sure people don’t have the basis for bargaining, and have no reason to form coalitions
- The participations must evaluate principles on the basis of general considerations, rather than their own
- Makes it fair
“Each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive scheme of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar scheme of liberties for others” (60)
Equal Liberty Principles
“Each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive scheme of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar scheme of liberties for others” (60)
- applies to aspects of the social system that define and secure equal basic liberties
Examples of equal liberty principles
- political liberty (right to vote and to hold public office) and freedom of assembly,
- liberty of conscience and freedom of thought,
- freedom of person,
- the right to hold personal and property,
- freedom from arbitrary arrest and seizure
“Social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both
applies to the distribution of income and wealth and to the design of organizations that make use of differences in authority and responsibility
Difference Principle
“Social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both
a) reasonably expected to be to everyone’s advantage and
b) attached to positions and offices open to all” (60)
Why difference principle?
- Well-being and a satisfactory life depends on cooperation
- Advantages should be distributed so that everyone is willing to cooperate in the system, including those the least well off
Results in general conception of justice;
- “all social values- liberty and opportunity, income and wealth, and the social bases of self-respect- are to be distributed equally unless an unequal distribution of any, or all, of these values is to everyone’s advantage” (62)
- Start with everything equally distributed, then any inequality must be justified by making everyone better off than they would be this hypothetical starting situation
- First principle takes priority, it cannot be compromised to fulfill the second
- Injustice is defined as inequalities that are not to the benefits of all
Rawls’ Difference Principle:
- “all social values- liberty and opportunity, income and wealth, and the social bases of self-respect- are to be distributed equally unless an unequal distribution of any, or all, of these values is to everyone’s advantage” (62)
Nozick is committed to a Libertarian approach
- “the minimal state is the most extensive state that can be justified” (393)
