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Questions and Answers

What is Rawls' theory of justice interested in creating?

A fair society

What does Rawls see as synonymous with fairness?

Justice

According to Rawls, where do inequalities stem from?

The lottery of birth

What question does Rawls pose to understand the distribution of benefits in a society?

<p>How are the benefits that a society produces to be distributed?</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two principles of justice that Rawls proposes?

<p>Equal basic liberties and social and economic inequalities arranged for the benefit of the least advantaged</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are considered 'basic liberties' according to Rawls?

<p>Right to hold personal property (A), Right to vote (B), Freedom of thought (C), Freedom from oppression (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference principle?

<p>Arranging social and economic inequalities so that the greatest benefit goes to the least advantaged.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the difference principle?

<p>To encourage incentive and possibility of economic growth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the argument for Rawls's principles of justice?

<p>The original position</p> Signup and view all the answers

What two assumptions are made about individuals in the original position?

<p>They are self-interested and rational.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'veil of ignorance'?

<p>A hypothetical condition where individuals are unaware of their own personal characteristics, social position, and natural talents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Rawls's theory of justice emphasize?

<p>The equality of liberty, opportunity, and the difference principle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Nozick believe about justice?

<p>It is the proper respect of rights</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Nozick argue is the source of our rights?

<p>The fact that we are self-owning individuals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Nozick argue about patterned distributions of justice?

<p>They are unjust.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the core argument in Cohen's objection to Nozick's Wilt Chamberlin analogy?

<p>It exploits 'rhetorical sleight-of-hand' to illustrate his point.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Nozick, what kind of state is justified?

<p>A minimal state limited to protecting individuals against force, theft, fraud, and enforcing contracts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Mill's core value?

<p>Liberty and autonomy</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Mill, personal freedom is always justified, even if it harms others.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Mill connect the importance of freedom to its practical and moral benefits?

<p>By arguing that freedom allows individuals to make choices that benefit them and society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the harm principle?

<p>Mill's view that it is acceptable to restrict someone's freedom if they are using it to harm others.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between negative freedom and positive freedom?

<p>Negative freedom is freedom from interference, while positive freedom is the ability to act on one's potential.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Isaiah Berlin's critique of Mill's approach to liberty?

<p>It neglects social and economic inequalities that restrict meaningful freedom.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Mill argue makes us human?

<p>Making bad decisions and growing from them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main criticism of the harm principle?

<p>Its vagueness and difficulty in applying it effectively.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Cohen believes that Rawls's theory of justice is effective in addressing social inequalities.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Nozick's view on taxation?

<p>It violates individual rights.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the three principles of justice in Nozick's entitlement theory?

<p>Acquisition, transfer, and rectification.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Nozick argue about the redistribution of wealth?

<p>It is unjust if it interferes with voluntary transactions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Rawls's theory of justice is based on the individualistic view of society.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main point of the Astronaut example used in the context of Nozick's theory?

<p>It illustrates the potential for unjust outcomes in a society where individuals claim ownership of unowned resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main point of the Eyes analogy?

<p>It shows how state control over essential resources can lead to unjust outcomes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Nozick argue about the role of the state?

<p>It should be minimal and limited to protecting individual rights.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Mill's theory of justice supports the idea of a strong state intervention.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main criticism of Mill's harm principle?

<p>It is vague and difficult to apply in practice.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Rawls' Theory of Justice

Rawls' theory aims to create a fair society by distributing opportunities fairly

First Principle of Justice

Equal basic liberties for all.

Basic Liberties

Rights like voting, freedom of thought, and freedom from oppression.

Second Principle of Justice

Social and economic inequalities must be justified.

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Difference Principle

Inequalities are acceptable if they help the least advantaged.

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Original Position

Hypothetical scenario of people designing a just society.

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Veil of Ignorance

Ensuring impartial decision-making in the original position.

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Maximin Principle

Choosing the option that maximizes the minimum outcome.

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Nozick's Libertarianism

Minimal state focused on protection, enforcing contracts, and not intervening in other aspects of life

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Self-Ownership

Individuals have the right to control their own bodies and property.

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Entitlement Theory

Justice in holdings based on acquisition, transfer, and rectification.

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Acquisition

Justly obtaining unowned resources without harming others.

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Transfer

Justly exchanging resources voluntarily.

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Rectification

Correcting past injustices regarding holdings.

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Wilt Chamberlin Analogy

Illustrates how voluntary exchanges can lead to unequal distributions.

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Harm Principle

Justification for limiting freedom to prevent harm to others.

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Negative Freedom

Freedom from interference by others.

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Positive Freedom

Ability to act on one's potential.

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Mill's Core Values

Personal freedom is paramount for human progression and individual well-being.

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Liberty and Autonomy

Freedom of choice and self-governance

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Study Notes

John Rawls: "A Theory of Justice"

  • Rawls is interested in creating a fair society through the semi-utilitarian principle of wealth distribution via opportunity.
  • Rawls believes fairness and justice are synonymous.
  • People, even young children, understand fairness and justice.
  • Rawls recognizes the inequalities resulting from birth lotteries.
  • He questions how societal benefits should be distributed.
  • Two principles of justice are proposed:
    • First Principle: Each person has an equal right to the most extensive system of equal basic liberties (right to vote, freedom of thought, freedom from oppression, property).
    • Second Principle: Social and economic inequalities are arranged to benefit the least advantaged (incentivizing economic growth, the "difference principle").

Argument for the Difference Principle

  • Rawls' principles of justice are argued through the "original position":
    • A group of people sets up a new society to outline a political constitution.
    • People in the original position are self-interested and rational—concerned with their well-being.
    • A veil of ignorance is used—people are unaware of their positions in society (wealth, status, abilities)—promoting impartiality.
  • The original position leads people to choose values that support a broad range of lifestyles.

Some Consequences and Questions

  • What about inequalities based on natural talents?
  • Rawls argues that society should give more resources to those with fewer natural assets (intelligence, talent).
  • Rawls does say that talents are arbitrary. It is okay to use them to generate wealth, but the wealthy must use that wealth to benefit the least advantaged.
  • Critics pose that this may be unfair to those with greater abilities or talents.

Robert Nozick: Libertarian

  • Nozick agrees with Rawls regarding justice as arising from a process, but not an end-result as with Rawls's theory.
  • Nozick believes in self-ownership and that people have the right to their own property.
  • Any limitations on this self-ownership are violations of justice.

The Objection of Cohen in Wilt Chamberlin's Analogy

  • Cohen criticizes the analogy; Nozick constructs a scenario to claim that the distribution is morally acceptable.
  • Cohen argues that the analogy is misleading.

Mill: "On Liberty"

  • Mill values liberty above all.
  • He believes freedom is essential for personal growth and social progress.
  • Mill presents the harm principle:
    • It is acceptable to curtail an individual's actions only if they cause harm to others.
  • The issue is vague because determining harm is subjective and culturally dependent.

Mill's Response

  • Mill argues that people make mistakes, and this freedom to make choices and learning to grow from mistakes is part of what makes humans human.

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