PH101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Distributive Justice, Thought Experiment
Document Summary
10:44 pm: the original position, the original position and the state of nature. Like a state of nature, the original position is a thought experiment. It is supposed to make clear what the guiding principles of a just society would be: design of the original position. Self-interest: participants are conceived as " not taking an interest in one another"s interests" (13: the "veil of ignorance" No one should be advantaged or disadvantaged by natural fortune or social circumstances. Ignorance of distribution of natural assets and abilities, intelligence, strength. Knowledge only of very general principles of reasoning. Thus, principles of justice are chosen from behind a "veil of ignorance: procedure of agreement, fairness. Initial situation is "fair between individuals are moral persons: scope of choice. Choice of (a) first principles of a conception of justice, (b) a constitution and legislature: against utilitarianism, utilitarianism. The idea that just will yield the greatest sum of advantages for a society as a whole.
