JOHN RAWLS

John Rawls proposed two main principles of justice in his Theory of Justice

1. The Principle of Equal Liberty: This principle states that each person has an equal right to basic liberties such as freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and political liberties. These liberties are to be protected and cannot be sacrificed for the greater good of society.

2. The Difference Principle: This principle focuses on social and economic inequalities within society. According to Rawls, inequalities are acceptable only if they benefit the least advantaged members of society. In other words, any social or economic inequality should be structured to improve the situation of the least well-off individuals.

Rawls argued that these principles, when applied together, would result in a just and fair society where basic liberties are protected, and inequalities are justified only if they benefit everyone, particularly the least advantaged members of society. These principles form the basis of Rawls's conception of justice and have been influential in political philosophy and ethics.

3. Ideal and Non-Ideal Theories stated under the John Rawls's Theory of Justice

John Rawls' Theory of Justice distinguishes between two key approaches to achieving a just society: ideal theory and non-ideal theory.

Ideal Theory

• Focuses on establishing the principles of justice for a perfectly just society, often referred to as a "well-ordered society."
• Employs the "original position" thought experiment, where individuals choose principles of justice from behind a veil of ignorance, not knowing their social status or characteristics.
• Aims to create a clear and coherent framework for a just distribution of social primary goods (rights, liberties, opportunities, income, wealth).
• Rawls' two principles of justice, the Equal Liberty Principle and the Difference Principle fall under ideal theory.

Non-Ideal Theory

• Deals with the challenges of implementing principles of justice in the real world, which is inherently imperfect and constantly evolving.
• Addresses issues like:
  • How to apply principles of justice in societies with existing inequalities and injustices.
  • The role of political realism and compromise in achieving a more just society.
  • Strategies for transitioning from an unjust society to a more just one.
• Rawls himself devoted less attention to non-ideal theory compared to ideal theory. However, he believed that a well-developed ideal theory is crucial for guiding the development of non-ideal theory.

The Relationship Between Ideal and Non-Ideal Theory

• Ideal theory provides a normative framework – a set of principles – for what a just society should look like.
• Non-ideal theory uses this framework to navigate the complexities of the real world and develop practical steps towards a more just society.
• Critics argue that Rawls' focus on ideal theory is impractical and doesn't provide enough guidance for real-world situations.
• However, supporters argue that a clear understanding of ideal principles is essential for evaluating progress towards justice and identifying injustices in existing societies.

Rawls' ideal theory provides the "what" of justice, while non-ideal theory grapples with the "how" of achieving it in a messy and imperfect world.

4. Significance of John Rawls's Theory of Justice

John Rawls's theory of justice is highly significant in political philosophy and social theory due to several key reasons.

1. Principles of Justice: Rawls proposed a set of principles of justice that have profoundly influenced discussions on social justice. His two principles of justice - the liberty principle and the difference principle - provide a framework for evaluating the fairness and equity of social institutions and policies.
2. Original Position and Veil of Ignorance: Rawls introduced the concept of the original position, where individuals are placed behind a "veil of ignorance" that hides their specific characteristics such as race, gender, social status, and talents. This thought experiment helps derive fair principles of justice that individuals would agree upon if they didn't know their position in society, ensuring impartiality and fairness in decision-making.
3. Fair Equality of Opportunity: Rawls emphasized the importance of fair equality of opportunity, which ensures that everyone has a fair chance to succeed in life regardless of their background or circumstances. This principle has been central to debates on social mobility and equal access to education and resources.
4. Difference Principle: Rawls's difference principle suggests that social and economic inequalities are acceptable only if they benefit the least advantaged members of society. This principle has influenced discussions on distributive justice, welfare policies, and economic inequality, advocating for measures that reduce disparities and enhance the well-being of the most vulnerable.
5. Political Liberalism: Rawls's work on political liberalism has contributed to the development of theories of liberal democracy. His emphasis on the importance of a just basic structure of society and the need for public reason in democratic decision-making has shaped debates on democracy, pluralism, and individual rights.
6. Just Society and Fair Institutions: Rawls's theory provides a framework for envisioning and evaluating a just society and fair social institutions. It has influenced public policy debates, constitutional law, and discussions on social contract theory, offering insights into how societies can organize themselves to promote justice and equality.

5. “Veil of Ignorance” By John Rawls 

The "veil of ignorance" is a concept introduced by the American philosopher John Rawls in his seminal work "A Theory of Justice." The idea behind the veil of ignorance is central to Rawls's theory of justice and is used as a tool to derive fair principles for organizing society.

The veil of ignorance represents a hypothetical situation in which individuals are placed behind a veil that hides their personal characteristics and circumstances. In this thought experiment, individuals are unaware of their social status, wealth, talents, race, gender, religion, or any other distinguishing features that might affect their position in society.

The purpose of the veil of ignorance is to ensure impartiality and fairness in decision-making regarding the principles that govern society. Rawls argues that if individuals do not know their own attributes or advantages, they are more likely to choose principles of justice that are fair and impartial, as they would not want to risk being disadvantaged by arbitrary factors.

Behind the veil of ignorance, individuals are tasked with designing the basic structure of society, including its political, economic, and social institutions. They must decide on principles of justice that will apply to everyone, regardless of their actual circumstances outside the veil.

Rawls suggests that rational individuals behind the veil of ignorance would choose principles that maximize fairness, equality, and opportunities for all members of society. This leads to the formulation of principles such as the two principles of justice: the liberty principle and the difference principle.

• The liberty principle states that each person has an equal right to basic liberties that are compatible with similar liberties for all.
• The difference principle asserts that social and economic inequalities should be arranged so that they benefit the least advantaged members of society, and they are attached to positions and offices open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity.

By using the veil of ignorance, Rawls aims to create a fair and just society where the principles of justice are agreed upon from a position of impartiality and equality, without being influenced by individual biases or self-interest. This concept has been highly influential in discussions about distributive justice, fairness, and the design of social institutions in political philosophy and ethics.