Single Idea 20538

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 4. Social Utilitarianism]

Full Idea

Rawls objects to utilitarianism because it fails to take seriously the separateness of persons (because there is no overall person to enjoy the overall happiness). But Nozick thinks Rawls does not take the separateness of persons seriously enough.

Gist of Idea

Utilitarians lump persons together; Rawls somewhat separates them; Nozick wholly separates them

Source

comment on John Rawls (A Theory of Justice [1972]) by Adam Swift - Political Philosophy (3rd ed) 1 'Nozick'

Book Reference

Swift,Adam: 'Political Philosophy (3rd edn)' [Polity 2014], p.32


A Reaction

In this sense, Nozick seems to fit our picture of a liberal more closely than Rawls does. I think they both exaggerate the separateness of persons, based on a false concept of human nature.