Elements of Rawls' Theory of Justice

In No Particular Order

by Dr. Jan Garrett

PHIL 320 -- Fall 2007

Revised October 10, 2007

Thought-experiment
Two Principles of Justice
Rational self-interested persons (assumed)
Veil of Ignorance
Equal Liberty Principle
Difference Principle
Equal Opportunity Clause
Advantage of the Least Advantaged
Fully adequate scheme (of liberties)
Just Social Order (Ideal "Actual Society")
Veil of Ignorance
gender, income level, ancestry, natural abilities and disabilities
religious preference
generation (early, late, etc., in the time-sequence of generations)
General knowledge available in the O.P.
Knowledge of possible social arrangements
Present Social Order (Perhaps non-ideal "actual society")
Lifting the Veil of Ignorance
The Original Position
Task of Persons in the Original Position
Growing Gap between Asset-Rich and Asset-Poor