A theory of justice summary. A Theory of Justice Free Summary by John Rawls 2022-12-26

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A Theory of Justice is a book written by philosopher John Rawls that was published in 1971. It is considered one of the most important works in political philosophy in the 20th century and has had a significant influence on the development of political and legal thought.

At the heart of Rawls' theory is the concept of justice as fairness. Rawls argues that justice is not about the distribution of goods or resources, but rather about the way in which those goods and resources are distributed. He asserts that a just society is one in which the distribution of goods and resources is based on a principle of fairness, rather than on arbitrary factors such as wealth, power, or social status.

Rawls' theory is based on the idea of the social contract, which is the hypothetical agreement that individuals in a society make with one another in order to establish the rules and principles that govern their relationships. Rawls' social contract is based on the concept of the "original position," which is a hypothetical situation in which individuals are asked to choose the principles of justice that should govern their society.

According to Rawls, individuals in the original position are assumed to be rational and self-interested, and they are asked to choose the principles of justice that would be in their own best interest, given their particular circumstances and needs. Rawls argues that, in the original position, individuals would choose principles of justice that are fair and that would benefit the least advantaged members of society, because they realize that they could be in the least advantaged position themselves.

Rawls' theory of justice has two main principles: the principle of equal liberty and the principle of fair equality of opportunity. The principle of equal liberty holds that all individuals should have the same basic liberties and rights, such as freedom of speech and religion, and that these liberties should not be infringed upon by the state or by other individuals. The principle of fair equality of opportunity holds that all individuals should have an equal chance to pursue their goals and ambitions, regardless of their social status or background.

Rawls' theory of justice has been widely debated and has had a significant impact on political and legal thought. It has been particularly influential in discussions of distributive justice and the role of the state in promoting fairness and equality. Despite its widespread influence, Rawls' theory has also been the subject of criticism, with some arguing that it is too abstract and unrealistic to be applied in practical terms.

Overall, A Theory of Justice is an important work that has had a significant influence on the development of political and legal thought. It offers a compelling vision of justice as fairness and provides a framework for thinking about the principles that should govern society.

A Theory of Justice

a theory of justice summary

For this reason, he listed it first, and it is most important because it is the foundation for the rest of his beliefs. Against the Marxists, Rawls asserts that liberalism is not simply a defense of liberty that leads to gross inequality. They don't know your ethnicity, your gender, or your age, either. Additionally, the original position is formulated to be a point of view that will lead to the same conclusion of principles no matter by whom it is adopted, where they live, or in what era they live. GradeSaver, 21 January 2019 Web. Read also Jesus Did Not Come To Abolish The Law The theory of justice is important because it helps us to think about how we can create a fairer society. The second principle of social justice is that each person should have access to what they need.

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John Rawls’ Theory of Justice: Summary & Analysis

a theory of justice summary

He also looks at perfectionism and intuitionism as theories of distributive justice in relation to justice as fairness. Thus, readers can examine what is meant by a contract from a legal and traditional point of view and can examine the process and features of the original position to see if in fact it represents a contractual situation. This chapter is about the arrangement of institutions that fulfill the requirements of justice in a modern state. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. The stability of a moral conception of justice depends upon a balance of motives; it should cultivate a sense of justice that can normally win out against propensities toward injustice.

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A Theory of Justice Part 1 Chapter 3 Summary

a theory of justice summary

However, what is apparent is that the basic institutions he speaks about as a necessity for arranging distributive shares in a just sense may work vastly differently in different societies. Part a of the second principle is referred to as the difference principle while part b is referred to as the equal opportunity principle. It will lay out some personal information on John Rawls. An individual goes through the process of socialization, through the approval and disapproval of authority figures, from parents to teachers and peers. There is no room for idle observation, meaning, that while we all possess equal opportunity as we all are equally moral persons, the choice of what you wish to possess materially as well as intellectually is the discretion and capability of the individual. In his publication, John Rawls introduces the eminent Original Position, in which everyone is impartially situated as equal, and the Principles of Justice, directed at undertaking the competing claims for liberty and fairness in the present-day society.

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A Theory of Justice Chapter 9 Summary

a theory of justice summary

Justice has only succumbed when the liberties of an individual are affected because of an external opinion of these characteristics, and, in the oppression of these characteristics upon another. The first principle is concerned with liberty and the assignment of basic rights and duties for all. The contract of the original position derives its weight as a regulative device precisely because it inverts the normal conditions that give rise to binding contracts. The equal distribution of all social values is extremely important, unless the unequal distribution of some leads to the benefit of all. A social system not only shapes the lives of people as they are, but also the kind of people they want to become. Here, Rawls attempts to place his two principles in a doctrine of political economy.

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A Theory of Justice Summary

a theory of justice summary

Rawls accepts that most societies would find it hard to fit into such a definition. A Theory of Justice: Revised Edition. As conceived by philosophers David Hume and Adam Smith, the classical principle defines the right in terms of the approval of "an ideally rational and impartial spectator" possessing full knowledge of the circumstances. Science, arts, and culture can be seen as such ends or products. Speaking of the unity of the self in the contract doctrine where a free person is able to form and follow a rational plan of life, Rawls asserts that justice as fairness allows for the full development of the moral personality. Each principle on the list is unconditional, meaning it would apply regardless of social contingencies or special circumstances. The Rationality of the Parties Rationality is defined as a quality of a person who has "a coherent set of preferences between the options open to him.

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A Theory of Justice Chapter Summaries

a theory of justice summary

This representative does not know about your social or economic position, such as your income, age, gender or ethnicity. This meeting is not a literal election or vote like in our example earlier about the tax structure. Firstly, it arises when persons lack a sure confidence in their own value and in their ability to do anything worthwhile. Social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both: Read also Is Hoarding Against The Law a to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged members of society, and b attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity. In addition, as free and rational beings, they will seek to implement the idea of reciprocity that is ingrained in the well-ordered society by furthering two principles of justice. He defines a happy person as one who is on the way to a successful execution of a rational plan of life drawn up under favorable conditions and who is reasonably confident that their intentions can be carried out.

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A Theory of Justice Chapter 8 Summary

a theory of justice summary

John Rawls' Justice As Fairness Rawls rejects the utilitarian defense of liberal democracy. It the inequality to the extent that the school system is designed to iron out social differences. To argue from the other direction, one may imagine people who are supposed to choose principles they would embrace knowing they are "to divide into a plurality" of distinct individuals with various interests. The second idea is to avoid acquiring bad character traits such as injustice and vanity. It is also a person who is not concerned with pursuing happiness for its own sake only for themself, but who is also concerned about the ability and opportunity of others to achieve happiness. This calculation is based on "the principle of insufficient reason," which is used when no information is available and assumes all outcomes are equally likely. Cite this page as follows: "A Theory of Justice - Chapter 9 Summary" eNotes Publishing Ed.


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A Theory Of Justice Book Summary, by John Rawls

a theory of justice summary

Although resources are adequate for the society in our thought experiment, resources are not infinite. On the question of time preference, Rawls explains it again in the context of the original position: There is no reason for the parties to give any weight to mere position in time. Thus, although the good of justice is convincingly portrayed by Rawls at a theoretical level, we are still grappling with the tasks of attempting to build truly just societies in the twenty-first century. The chapter has extensive discussions on the role of markets and pricing and the laws of taxation on income and property. Justice can only be considered to have met its objectives when it treats all as equal citizens and does not violate the rights of any from social or political calculations. The American Political Science Review. The second chapter introduces Rawls' two principles of justice, which the book as a whole seeks to defend.

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