JOHN RAWLS Flashcards
What is Rawls key work?
‘A Theory Of Justice’ (1971)
What did Rawls believe the ‘foundational equality’ meant?
individuals required not just formal equality under the law and constitution but also greater social and economic equality
Why did Rawls want greater economical equality?
To ensure all lives were rich and fulfilled
How did Rawls suggest there would become greater economical equality?
Via an enabling state with extensive public spending and progressive taxation
What did Rawls suggest was perfectly consistent with liberal principles?
Redistribution of wealth
What is ‘the original position’?
individuals would be asked to construct from scratch a society they judged to be super then the current one
What is central to ‘the original position’?
question about how wealth and power should be distributed
What is the ‘veil of ignorance’?
individuals would have no preconceptions about the sort of people they themselves might be in this new society
What is Rawls series of philosophical conditions for redistribution of wealth to be consistent with liberal principles?
‘the original position’ and ‘veil of ignorance’
What did Rawls argue that human nature would lead to in society?
As human nature is being rational and empathetic, this would lead individuals to choose a society where the poorest members fared significantly better than in present society
Why did Rawls say individuals would choose a ‘fairer society with an enlarged state and higher taxation?
because inequities were reduced
What did Rawls deny his ideas were?
Socialist
What did Rawls use to argue his ideas were not socialism?
he thought the life of the poor should be improved by the state, he did not argue that the gap between the richest and the poorest should be narrowed
John Rawls view on Human Nature
Mankind is selfish yet empathetic, valuing both individual liberty and the plight of those around them
John Rawls view on the state
The state should enable less fortunate individuals to advance, via public spending and public services
