John Rawls – A theory of Justice

1) How does Rawls articulate his idea of “justice as fairness” ?

Rawls beliefs are much different from others because Rawls believe that the justice should be fair and that the rights of the people should not be taken away or put back in order to get greater good in society. Justice as fairness was seen to him as two main theories, “original position”, and the “veil of ignorance” (Rawls 195). “Men are to decide in advance how they are to regulate their claims against one another and what is to be the foundation character of their society” (Rawls 199. After reading this quote it seem to me as if he wants the people to be pre-programmed like robots. Rawls saying that the foundation of there character should be set before they enter society. As stated by Rawls, Justice in Fairness begins with “one of the most general of all choices which persons might make together, namely general of all choices of the first principles of a conception of justice which is to regulate all subsequent criticism and reform of institutions” (Rawls 201). I think Rawls way of describing the Justice as a “contact” was a bit misleading. The word “contact” suggests this plurality as well as the condition that the appropriate division of advantages must be in accordance with principles of justice is also connoted by the contract phraseology (Rawls 203). Overall I think that John Rawls took a very different approach to the way society should be shaped in terms of the role of men and women, and how their character should be processed in society.


Works Sited

John Rawls. “A theory of Justice” A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. 7th ed. New York: Bedford St. Martins,2006 pp 102-110.