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Full Idea
Rawls's theory presupposes that the contractors are conceived, and conceive themselves, to be free and equal persons. Consequently, the theory cannot be presented as a justificatory theory of liberalism.
Gist of Idea
Rawls's theory cannot justify liberalism, since it presupposes free and equal participants
Source
John Charvet (Liberalism: the basics [2019], 14)
Book Ref
Charvet,John: 'Liberalism: the basics' [Routledge 2019], p.181
A Reaction
Nice. If you imagine diverse groups with many strong beliefs coming together to form a society, Rawls is asking them all to become liberals before they all decide how to live together.
Related Idea
Idea 22848 People with strong prior beliefs would have nothing to do with a veil of ignorance [Charvet]
| 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] |
| 20594 | Choosers in the 'original position' have been stripped of most human characteristics [Sandel, by Tuckness/Wolf] |
| 20983 | The original position insures that the agreements reached are fair [Sen] |
| 20535 | Isn't it more rational to maximise the average position, but with a safety net? [Swift] |
| 20596 | For global justice, adopt rules without knowing which country you will inhabit [Tuckness/Wolf] |
| 22849 | Rawls's theory cannot justify liberalism, since it presupposes free and equal participants [Charvet] |