Single Idea 20568

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

Full Idea

The advantage of Rawls's method is that the principles the individual chooses are not only fair according to some abstract principle of benevolence, but also the result of rational choice.

Gist of Idea

The principles Rawls arrives at do not just conform to benevolence, but also result from choices

Source

Johanna Oksala (Political Philosophy: all that matters [2013], Ch.5)

Book Reference

Oksala,Johanna: 'Political Philosophy' [Hodder and Stoughton 2013], p.66


A Reaction

That is a very nice way of putting the beauty of Rawls's idea. In modern political philosophy you hear far more criticisms of Rawls than praise. If a philosopher is criticised a lot, it is probably because they have stated their views clearly.