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Single Idea 4123

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / B. Contract Ethics / 1. Contractarianism ]

Full Idea

Rawls's theory is an elaboration of a simple idea: a fair system of arrangements is one that the parties can agree to without knowing how it will benefit them personally.

Gist of Idea

A fair arrangement is one that parties can agree to without knowing how it will benefit them personally

Source

report of John Rawls (A Theory of Justice [1972]) by Bernard Williams - Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy Ch.5

Book Ref

Williams,Bernard: 'Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy' [Fontana 1985], p.78

A Reaction

The essence of modern Kantian contractualism. It is an appealing principle for building a rational world, but I hear Nietzsche turning in his grave.

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]