John Rawls Flashcards
liberalism
when was he alive?
1921-2002
-post WWI, written in opposition to Nozick (?)
what is he known to be?
the most important exponent of modern liberalism in C20th
what was his major work?
A Theory of Justice- 1971
what was his first principal objective?
-to reinstate the core liberal principle of ‘foundational equality’ means ppl needed social/ec/formal equality under the law
why was his first objective necessary?
to ensure just society where lives could be rich + fulfilled
how could his first objective be achieved?
by significant redistribution of wealth (enabling state) w/public spending + progressive taxation
what was his second objective?
to show that redistribution of wealth was not a ‘surrender to socialism’ + was consistent with liberal principles
how could his second objective be achieved?
-a series of philosophical conditions
-the first was the ‘original position’- ppl asked to construct a superior society to the one they lived in
-the ‘veil of ignorance’- ppl have no preconceptions about who they may be in society, so they would try to make it fair for all groups
what would HN guide ppl to choose in a society?
one where poorer members fared better than in present society
-inequalities were reduced in this ‘fairer’ society
what was a larger state consistent with?
-would also have higher taxation + redistribution of wealth
-consistent with liberalism’s ‘government by consent’
what did he not believe?
that the gap between richest and poorest should be narrowed necessarily
