Justice, Political Philosopher John Rawls Looks at Essay

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Justice, political philosopher John Rawls looks at the idea of social justice and the individual rights of the individual by redefining the last 200+ years of the American experience. In general, he looks at the manner in which the Founding Fathers were correct by basing their views on previous social contract theorists like Locke and Rousseau. For example, there is a clear linkage between John Locke and Rawls that validates the ideas of liberalism within American society. In fact, Rawls notes that the American Experience extended the concept of justice far beyond hat any of the Enlightenment philosophers ever hoped (Rawls, 1957).

Rawls (1921-2002), an American philosopher who focused on moral and political philosophy, believed that the principles of justice are the models that rational individuals who are free would choose as basic ways to cooperate within their society. He called this position the original position, in that it was the most favored choice for an individual situation. This idea encompassed two overall principles of justice: 1) they must match what an informed individual requires in a free state regarding various circumstances; and, 2) they would most likely be chosen in the original position by rational individuals. In effect, the original position should engender a moral position of justice that is both workable and intuitive (Rawls, 2001).

Rawls' original position is a hypothetical presumption that deals with the way people view situations that are relevant to their situation. Groups set tasks to maximize agreements about the political and economic structure of their society so that they can live together in harmony -- or what Rawls' calls a "veil of ignorance.

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" This veil is not negative, but informative in that each person lacks some knowledge. Rawls notes: "no one knows his place in society, his class, position or social status; nor does he know his fortune in the distribution of natural assets and abilities, his intelligence ad strength, and the like" (Rawls, 1999, p. 118). To put in a relevant example, in an imaginary society, one may or may not be wealthy, intelligent, physically adept, or born into a preferred class. An individual may occupy any position in this society once the veil is lifted, and the idea is that all parties must consider society from the perspective of all its embers, from the better off to the middle range to the worst off.

The Difference Principle is part of the idea of distributive justice. We know that the wealth of a nation is not fixed, but can vary between industrialized nations, work effort, expertise and even natural resources. The Difference Principle is based on Rawls' two principles of justice: 1) Each individual has an equal claim to a set of basic rights and principles (like Locke and Rousseau). Those liberties are not granted by anyone but are natural rights; 2) Cultural, social and economic inequalities are to satisfy two conditions: a) attached to positions open to all and, b) they should be of more benefit to….....

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