more on this theme     |     more from this thinker

Single Idea 18636

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 4. Original Position / b. Veil of ignorance ]

Full Idea

The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance. ...Since all are similarly situated and no one is able to design principles to favor his particular condition, the principles of justice are the rest of a fair agreement or bargain.

Gist of Idea

Choose justice principles in ignorance of your own social situation

Source

John Rawls (A Theory of Justice [1972], §03)

Book Ref

Rawls,John: 'A Theory of Justice' [OUP 1978], p.12

A Reaction

A famous idea. It tries to impose a Kantian impartiality onto the assessment of political principles. It is a beautifully simple idea, and saying that such impartiality never occurs is no objection to it. Think of a planet far far away.

The 14 ideas from 'A Theory of Justice'

3280 Why does the rational agreement of the 'Original Position' in Rawls make it right? [Nagel on Rawls]
20552 The original position models the idea that citizens start as free and equal [Rawls, by Swift]
15676 Rawls defends the priority of right over good [Rawls, by Finlayson]
4123 A fair arrangement is one that parties can agree to without knowing how it will benefit them personally [Rawls, by Williams,B]
20538 Utilitarians lump persons together; Rawls somewhat separates them; Nozick wholly separates them [Swift on Rawls]
9277 Rawls's account of justice relies on conventional fairness, avoiding all moral controversy [Gray on Rawls]
21018 The social contract has problems with future generations, national boundaries, disabilities and animals [Rawls, by Nussbaum]
18636 Choose justice principles in ignorance of your own social situation [Rawls]
18631 All desirable social features should be equal, unless inequality favours the disadvantaged [Rawls]
21041 Justice concerns not natural distributions, or our born location, but what we do about them [Rawls]
20527 Liberty Principle: everyone has an equal right to liberties, if compatible with others' liberties [Rawls]
23110 Human injustice is not a permanent feature of communities [Rawls]
23583 If an aggression is unjust, the constraints on how it is fought are much stricter [Rawls]
3279 Utilitarianism inappropriately scales up the individual willingness to make sacrifices [Rawls, by Nagel]