Rawls' Political Liberalism: Key Concepts

Fact of Reasonable Pluralism

• Society is composed of numerous reasonable yet conflicting viewpoints
• Rawls suggests uniting society without suppressing individual views

Society as Fair Cooperation

• Society entails ongoing cooperation between generations
• Justice principles ensure fairness for all citizens, not just a select few

Basic Structure

• This refers to the primary institutions shaping life, including laws, the economy, and government
• It determines background justice and fairness over time

Original Position

• This is a hypothetical fair negotiation behind a veil of ignorance
• It removes bias, ensuring justice is chosen fairly

Veil of Ignorance

• People in the original position are unaware of their class, race, etc.
• This prevents individuals from rigging justice in their favor

Two Moral Powers

• These consist of a sense of justice (reasonableness) and a conception of the good (rationality)
• They justify why citizens are free and equal

Public Justification

• It uses public reason to justify laws to others
• This maintains justice that is democratic, not merely personal

Overlapping Consensus

• Diverse beliefs converge on a political conception of justice
• Social unity is maintained without imposing a single religion/philosophy

Ideal Theory

• It assumes strict compliance and a well-ordered society
• This provides a starting point for understanding justice under optimal conditions

Burdens of Judgment

• Reasonable individuals disagree due to complexity and bias, which is permanent
• It explains why pluralism persists

Political Conception of Justice

• Justice is not tied to any specific religion or philosophy
• It ensures a neutral foundation for justice

Two Principles of Justice

• These include equal basic liberties and fair equality of opportunity, plus the Difference Principle
• They guarantee liberty first, then fairness in inequalities

Background Justice

• Fairness is maintained by a just basic structure
• It ensures a fair framework for all social activities and transactions

Considered Convictions

• These are deep moral judgments that serve as fixed points
• It ensures justice principles align with fundamental moral beliefs

Fair Equality of Opportunity

• Talent and effort should dictate success, not birth privilege
• It ensures real social mobility

Difference Principle

• Inequalities are acceptable only if they benefit the least advantaged
• This justifies inequalities by helping the worst off

Reciprocity

• A middle ground is struck between impartiality and mutual advantage
• It encourages those who are better-off to contribute to society

Four-Stage Sequence

• This involves the original position, constitution, laws, and judicial enforcement
• Principles of justice are applied step-by-step

Primary Goods

• These are essential resources needed to live freely
• It ensures everyone has a fair starting point

Liberal Principle of Legitimacy

• Political power is legitimate only if justifiable to all reasonable citizens under certain conditions like rights, wealth, and respect
• This prevents oppression and unfair rule

Fact of Oppression

• This exists when a state enforces one doctrine over others, requiring coercion
• It justifies political liberalism and fair rules

Ideal Historical Process

• A society remains just if rights, duties, and fair rules are consistently followed
• It ensures justice holds up over time

Pure Background Procedural Justice

• If rules are fair, any outcome is deemed fair
• Justice arises from the process, not the outcome

Reasonable Pluralism

• Society accommodates numerous reasonable but conflicting beliefs
• It demonstrates why no single doctrine can define justice

Nonideal Theory

• It addresses real-world injustices given current conditions
• Utilized because of the need for practical reform in unjust societies

Feasibility & Stability

• Justice must be realistic and stable over time
• It ensures justice operates in practice, not just in theory

Partial Compliance

• This relates to how justice is applied when people don't fully comply (e.g., civil disobedience)
• It helps address unjust laws and institutions

Historical Injustices

• These acknowledge past injustices such as slavery and gender inequality
• This showcases that ideal theory alone is insufficient

Addressing Injustices

• Guidance is provided on which wrongs are most urgent to fix
• This helps prioritize justice reforms

Strains of Commitment

• Justice must be realistically followable by citizens
• It ensures people can commit to justice long-term

Duty of Public Civility

• It is a duty to debate using fair, shared reasons
• This prevents political breakdown and polarization

Political Capital

• Society thrives on reasonableness, fairness, and civility
• This strengthens cooperation and stability