PO301 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Justice As Fairness
Document Summary
Rawls argues that the principles of justice are those that a free and rational person concerned to further their own interests would accept in an initial position of equality (and ignorance). Basic liberties include freedom of speech, thought, assembly, bodily autonomy, right to hold property in some sense, freedom from arbitrary arrest. Rawls argues that it would be chosen because, not knowing their circumstances, each person has a strong interest in securing the maximum possible liberties for themselves. 2. social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both: (a)attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity (the principle of fair equality of opportunity - feo). This means essentially careers open to talent and no other criterion - all should have the same legal rights to all advantaged social positions. and b) to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged (the difference principle -
