John Rawls and His Major Works

A significant 20th-century philosopher known for his theory of justice as fairness, articulated in works like A Theory of Justice.

Rawls's major work outlining a concept of justice focusing on fairness and avoiding utilitarian sacrifice of individual interests.

Rawls's approach to social justice, emphasizing that a fair society provides equal opportunities for everyone to thrive.

A hypothetical starting point in Rawls's thought experiment, where individuals design a society behind a 'veil of ignorance'.

A crucial element in the original position, where individuals lack knowledge about their social status, wealth, or abilities.

An older idea that Rawls utilizes to explain obligations and principles of social justice, though not in the same way as 17th-century thinkers.

An ethical framework that often prioritizes the 'greater good', potentially at the cost of individual well-being, which Rawls criticizes.

A political system where citizens are free to live their lives as they choose, protected by law.

Diversity of moral, religious, and philosophical beliefs.

Rawls's theory of justice to minimize conflict while respecting basic liberties and equality of opportunity.

A shared agreement on fundamental principles of justice, acceptable to diverse groups.

Reasoning in political discourse that all citizens can grasp and accept.

Rawls's later work on political philosophy, building on "A Theory of Justice."

A person who, on rational grounds, would support a system of justice.

A 20th-century philosopher known for his influential work on political philosophy, particularly his book Anarchy, State, and Utopia. He focused on individual rights and limited government.

Robert Nozick's 1974 book arguing for a minimal state based on individual natural rights and limited government intervention in the economy.

A state with only essential functions, such as protecting individual rights and enforcing contracts, with minimal interference in other aspects of life.

Inalienable rights inherent to individuals, which no government can legitimately violate without consent.

A political philosophy emphasizing individual liberty, limited government, and free markets.

A political movement emphasizing classical liberal principles in the latter half of the 20th century.

A principle of distributive justice ensuring the worst-off members of society have sufficient resources for their freedom to be meaningful.

Fair allocation of resources and opportunities in a society.

A system where the government provides a minimum standard of living for the poor, often through redistributive taxation.

A hypothetical starting point in Rawls's theory where individuals choose principles of justice without knowing their future position in society.

A political philosophy emphasizing individual rights and freedoms as fundamental values.

An argument that assumes the conclusion it intends to prove.

Rawls's later work focusing on how his theory of justice fits within the needs of modern liberal democracies.

Individuals preferring certainty to potential gain in uncertain situations.

Individuals seeking the best possible outcome in terms of happiness or well-being.

Taxation system where higher earners pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes.

A limited government focused on protecting individual rights and liberties, with minimal interference in the economy.

Justice determined by the fairness of procedures, not necessarily by the outcomes.

Property ownership arises through first peaceful possession of unowned items.

Property is justly acquired when its transfer between owner(s) is through legal means like sale or inheritance.

Taxation used to redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor.

Compelled work or service without consent.

Rights of individuals or entities to possess, control, and use property

A philosophy emphasizing individual liberty and minimal government intervention, especially in issues of resource distribution.

A response to Rawls's welfare-state theory, arguing for a minimal state focused on protecting individual rights, primarily property, and not welfare provision.

Problems like crime, invasion, and contract breaches that emerge without government in Locke's state of nature, and that Nozick acknowledged.

Early forms of private security organizations, where individuals cooperate to protect themselves, transitioning to commercial agencies as needed.

Private security companies that individuals pay for protection, with the incentive of efficiency and competition leading to dominance

The single, most effective security agency in a given location, gaining a monopoly on coercion and essentially becoming the state.

A state's exclusive right to use coercion, arising naturally through competition and market forces.

A state focused on limited functions—protection against force, fraud, and theft—not welfare provision.

Nozick strongly connects the freedom to act (liberty) to the right to own property, emphasizing freedom from interference as paramount.

An ideology prioritizing individual liberty and private ownership, often intertwined with limited government intervention.