Week 5: Rawls Flashcards
THE ITALIAN CONSTITUTION
“The complex system of counterweights introduced by the Constitution must be tracked back to this, that is, to the fear that the next day, the winning party would be tempted to crush the opposition.”
VEIL OF IGNORANCE
Under a veil of ignorance:
* What system of laws will be chosen?
* Which principles of justice will be chosen?
Rawls rejects ..
Utilitariasm & Libertarianism
PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE
1) Each person has the same indefeasible claim to a fully adequate scheme of equal basic liberties, which scheme is compatible with the same scheme of liberties for all.
2) Social and economic inequalities are to satisfy two conditions:
- attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity;
- to the greatest benefit of the least-advantaged members of society (the difference principle).
MORAL ARBITRARINESS
Rawls understands fairness as the absence of morally arbitrary facts:
* Rejects justice based on bloodline.
* Rejects justice based on social/economic class.
* Rejects justice based on personal merit.
Rawls rejects moral desert (meritocracy):
* Argues that desirable qualities in society are arbitrary.
* Sees the ability to put effort as arbitrary.
Social Contract and Moral Dilemmas:
In moral dilemmas, tensions often arise between individual rights and social or collective goods.
Questions include when individual desires can be suppressed, how to address conflicts between individuals, and between individuals and society.
The concepts of freedom and equality are central, prompting inquiries into their reconciliation.
Determining when a society is just becomes a critical consideration in ethical and political discourse.
Thomas Hobbes and Leviathan:
He posited a state of nature characterized by a perpetual war (“Bellum omnium contra omnes”).
Hobbes argued for the necessity of a sovereign authority to maintain peace and order, even if it meant surrendering individual rights.
Legitimacy, for Hobbes, rested on the sovereign’s ability to ensure peace rather than the manner of its ascension to power.
John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government:
Locke, often called the “Father of Liberalism,” offered a contrasting view to Hobbes.
He believed in the inherent goodness of human nature but acknowledged its potential for selfishness.
Locke’s concept of natural rights, including life, liberty, and property, formed the basis of his political theory.
According to Locke, legitimate governance requires the consent of the governed and the protection of natural rights.
Jean Jacques Rousseau and the Social Contract:
He viewed humans as inherently good but corrupted by society.
Rousseau aimed to reconcile individual freedom with the authority of the state.
His concept of the general will emphasized collective decision-making and the importance of citizen participation in governance.
John Rawls and Justice as Fairness:
Rawls proposed a social contract theory based on a veil of ignorance, where individuals decide on principles of justice without knowledge of their social status.
His principles of justice prioritize equal basic liberties for all and the maximization of benefits for the least advantaged.
Rawls rejected morally arbitrary factors in justice, advocating for fairness regardless of factors like birthright or personal merit.
His theory prompts discussions on achieving global justice and transforming societies into fair ones.
Albert Camus and Existentialism in “The Stranger”:
Camus’ novel “The Stranger” delves into themes of freedom, indifference, and societal norms.
The protagonist’s existential journey reflects on the absurdity of life and the individual’s confrontation with death.
Camus portrays the indifference of the world, suggesting a sense of liberation and acceptance in embracing this indifference.
The novel prompts reflection on societal expectations, personal freedom, and the search for meaning in an indifferent universe.
