In a just society according to Rawls, inequalities should serve the worst off, not the richest.
Rawls' experiences in WW2 influenced his vision of personal liberty and equality in society.
Rawls contrasts utilitarianism with intuitionism, aiming to combine their strengths for just outcomes.
Deep dives
Rawls builds a new society based on personal liberty and fair equality of opportunity
John Rawls, in 'A Theory of Justice,' constructs a vision of a new society after World War II centered on personal liberty and fair equality of opportunity. Drawing on his experiences in World War II, Rawls proposes that inequalities in this just society must benefit the least well-off rather than the richest.
Rawls' background and the influences on his philosophy
John Rawls, born in Baltimore to an affluent family in 1921, experienced tragic losses during his childhood. His World War II service profoundly influenced his philosophical journey, leading him to question divine providence and focus on human-created justice. Rawls's educational and wartime experiences shaped his views on justice and informed his influential work.
The critical evaluation of Rawls' utilitarianism and intuitionism
Rawls contrasts utilitarianism, focused on maximizing happiness for the majority, with intuitionism, emphasizing individual moral intuitions. He critiques utilitarianism for neglecting individual rights and proposes intuitionism, valuing moral intuitions, with the aim of combining their strengths and mitigating their weaknesses in the pursuit of just outcomes.
Rawls introduces the difference principle and its radical approach to justice
Rawls presents the difference principle as foundational to justice, stating that society's inequalities should benefit the least advantaged members. This principle challenges conventional notions and advocates for improving the worst-off group's position without disadvantaging others. Rawls' original ideas on justice strive to reshape societal structures to elevate the most vulnerable.
Reflective equilibrium and the role of democracy in Rawls' theory
Rawls' concept of reflective equilibrium offers a method to assess moral claims and achieve coherence across diverse moral judgments. He emphasizes democracy as central to a just society, promoting equal opportunities and fair treatment. Rawls' approach underscores the critical link between democratic values and foundational principles of justice.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss A Theory of Justice by John Rawls (1921 - 2002) which has been called the most influential book in twentieth century political philosophy. It was first published in 1971. Rawls (pictured above) drew on his own experience in WW2 and saw the chance in its aftermath to build a new society, one founded on personal liberty and fair equality of opportunity. While in that just society there could be inequalities, Rawls’ radical idea was that those inequalities must be to the greatest advantage not to the richest but to the worst off.
With
Fabienne Peter
Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick
Martin O’Neill
Professor of Political Philosophy at the University of York
And
Jonathan Wolff
The Alfred Landecker Professor of Values and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford and Fellow of Wolfson College
Producer: Simon Tillotson
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