Rawls' Theory of Social Justice

The concept that a fair and just society is achieved through agreements reached in a situation where everyone is treated equally and has a fair chance to participate.

The idea that any social structure or system of rules should not be imposed through force or based on subjective moral beliefs, but rather should be established through a process of reasoned agreement.

The idea that understanding basic moral concepts like right, wrong, and goodness is essential to creating a just society.

A process of balancing and refining moral judgments, principles, and background theories to arrive at consistent and justifiable moral beliefs.

A limitation imposed on the justification of moral principles, requiring them to be independently supported rather than relying solely on background theories or judgments.

The idea that rights, entitlements, and other aspects of a just society should be derived from principles based on the nature of individuals and the role of morality in society.

The idea that individuals are rational beings with inherent worth and dignity, and that society should be structured to protect and promote these values.

The idea that morality plays a crucial role in shaping society and that rules and structures should reflect fundamental moral principles.

Rawls' idea that individuals in a society should be considered as equal and free persons to ensure just outcomes. This is crucial for predictable and meaningful choices about moral principles.

Rawls' analytical model to determine principles of justice. It imagines individuals choosing principles behind a 'veil of ignorance', unaware of their own position or characteristics, ensuring fairness.

The set of goods considered essential for individuals to flourish in a democratic society. These include basic liberties, opportunities, and resources.

The first of Rawls' two principles of justice, stating that everyone deserves equal basic liberties, like freedom of speech and religion, compatible with similar liberties for others.

The second of Rawls' two principles of justice, stating that social and economic inequalities are only just if they benefit the least advantaged members of society.

Nozick's argument that a minimal state is best for achieving justice, emphasizing individual rights and voluntary exchange over a central authority distributing resources.

Nozick's rejection of the idea that justice involves a centralized distribution of resources, arguing that individuals acquire and trade resources through voluntary exchanges.

A process of giving out resources using specific principles or criteria. This term implies a central authority distributing resources, which Nozick rejects.

A term that emphasizes the process of redistributing already existing resources. This is often used to describe the potential correction of past injustices in resource allocation.

Rawls' theory of justice is based on individuals choosing principles from behind a 'veil of ignorance', ensuring fairness by abstracting from personal circumstances.

The combination of Rawls' two principles of justice: equal basic liberties and the difference principle, aimed at ensuring a fair and equitable society.

Nozick's view that justice focuses on the process of acquiring and transferring goods through voluntary exchanges, not on a predetermined distribution.

Nozick's argument against redistributive policies, suggesting they violate individual rights by forcing transfers of property without consent.

Rawls' concept that individual preferences and choices are predictable when individuals are understood as equal persons, making it possible to determine just outcomes.

Rawls' belief that his theory is rooted in common political ideals shared by individuals in constitutional democracies, giving it legitimacy and grounding in real societies.

The set of principles defining what makes holdings or possessions just. It includes rules for how people initially acquire things (acquisition), how they can transfer those things to others (transfer), and how a distribution of holdings is considered fair.

The principles governing how people initially gain ownership of previously unowned things. This includes rules about who can acquire what, how they can acquire it, and the limits of such acquisition.

The principles governing how people can legally transfer their holdings to others. This includes processes like voluntary exchange, gifts, and inheritance, and also excludes practices like fraud.

A distribution of holdings is considered just if everyone possesses those holdings through rightful acquisition and transfer. In other words, the holdings are not unjustly taken or transferred.

Nozick's theory of justice focuses on the process of acquiring and transferring holdings, arguing that a distribution is just if it arises from prior just distributions through legitimate means.

Rawls' theory emphasizes the idea of reaching a fair agreement on how to distribute holdings, regardless of whether this agreement perfectly reflects an objective moral order. It prioritizes finding a 'workable public agreement.'

Nozick believes in a fixed moral order, meaning there are objective truths about what is right and wrong. His theory aims to discover and describe this moral order.

Rawls' theory while still considering objective morality, prioritize reaching a practical agreement even if it doesn't perfectly match an objective moral order.

Rawls' theory views justice as a practical problem that society needs to solve. It aims to find a workable solution that is fair and just, even if it's not perfect.

Nozick's theory views justice as uncovering the correct moral order regarding property rights. It aims to analyze how these rights are established and what makes them legitimate.

Nozick's entitlement theory is considered controversial because it can lead to highly unequal distributions of wealth and property. It may not consider what people deserve or need, and it doesn't prioritize those who are less fortunate.

One of the main criticisms of Nozick's theory is that it upholds property rights based on the idea that people are entitled to the fruits of their labor. This ignores the role of social factors and inherited advantages that contribute to wealth.

Rawls challenges Nozick's defense of property rights by arguing that differences in wealth and property are often based on morally arbitrary factors like social position and natural talents. This implies that inequality based on such factors is unjust.

Rawls argues that the principles of justice should be established before considering what rights people have to property. This means the principles of fair distribution should come first, and then property rights should respect those principles.

According to Rawls, people don't have a right to keep all the earnings generated by their talents. Instead, they are only entitled to a share of those earnings that aligns with the principles of distributive justice.

The idea that everyone's talents and abilities are their own, and the rewards they gain from them are theirs to keep, without forced redistribution. This principle emphasizes individual autonomy and freedom.

The argument that even if individuals own themselves, it doesn't automatically grant them complete freedom to do whatever they want with their property. Property rights should be regulated to consider other important values.

Refers to the historical injustice in the initial acquisition of property, suggesting that much of it was obtained through exploitation, theft, slavery, or colonization. This undermines the legitimacy of current property ownership and any transfers derived from these unjust origins.

A criticism of Nozick's theory, arguing that it's impractical to correct historical injustices due to the difficulty in reconstructing the past and determining rightful ownership. This suggests the need for a more forward-looking theory of justice.

A critique of Rawls' theory of justice, suggesting that the rules of representation in the original position are somewhat arbitrary. This challenges the legitimacy of the principles derived from this thought experiment.

A point of contention in Rawls' theory, questioning whether the principle of reciprocity actually mandates prioritizing basic liberties. Some argue that even utilitarianism, a theory often seen as allowing for liberty limitations, aligns with reciprocity.

A crucial argument that emphasizes the importance of natural rights in a just society. It contends that grounding social distribution on natural rights is like building a skyscraper on weak ground, due to the uncertainty surrounding the existence and interpretation of those rights.

A perspective arguing that Rawls' approach to political philosophy is superior to Nozick's, as it focuses on principles of justice rather than relying on contested notions of natural rights. This approach promotes a more stable and less divisive society.

The idea that a just society should promote sufficient property for everyone, ensuring their freedom and autonomy. This emphasizes the importance of a redistributive approach to achieving justice.

The theory that any transfer of property is just if it is freely consented to. This concept prioritizes individual liberty and autonomy in property transactions.