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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]
|