PHIL 4 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Political Philosophy, Well-Order, Justice As Fairness
11/13/17
● John Rawls
○ A theory of justice
○ Generally recognized as the greatest political philosopher of the 20th century
○ Brought political philosophy to the forefront of the modern political and
philosophical thought. Prior to rawls, political philosophy was more or less in the
back seat of moral phil
○ Rawlsianism is used as a framework for discussion in legal scholarship, political
science, sociology, social psychology, and economics
○ Stated in the pacific during WWII - became a critic of the use of atomic weapons
● Rawls’ theory of justice
○ What is justice and what is its role
● Society
○ Organization of individuals who cooperate with each other by recognizing certain
rules of conduct among each other
○ The goal is to improve the lives of those in the society
○ Identity of interests: everyone's better off than being alone
○ Conflict of interest: everyone wants the benefits; but no one wants the burdens of
cooperation
○ We need a system of justice to determine the division of these benefits and
burdens
■ These are the principles of justice
● Public conception of justice
○ A well-ordered society is one in which
1. Everyone accepts the principles of justice
2. The basic social institutions generally satisfy the principles of justice
● Individuals with different aims and purposes recognize that, even if they have a
particular burden, the burden may be just, and even if others have a particular
benefit, the benefit may be just.
● Other considerations besides justice
○ Coordination: everyone’s plans should generally be able to fit together without
being severely disappointed
○ Efficiency: achievement of social ends should be efficient and consistent with
justice
○ Stability: rules must be complied with, and violations must be stabilized by forces
in society
■ While justice has a priority over the others, other things being equal,
one conception of justice is preferable to another if it has more
desirable effects on coordination, efficiency, and stability
● Institutions
○ Institution: political constitution/structure, and principle economic and social
arrangements
Document Summary
Generally recognized as the greatest political philosopher of the 20th century. Brought political philosophy to the forefront of the modern political and philosophical thought. Prior to rawls, political philosophy was more or less in the back seat of moral phil. Rawlsianism is used as a framework for discussion in legal scholarship, political science, sociology, social psychology, and economics. Stated in the pacific during wwii - became a critic of the use of atomic weapons. What is justice and what is its role. Organization of individuals who cooperate with each other by recognizing certain rules of conduct among each other. The goal is to improve the lives of those in the society. Identity of interests: everyone"s better off than being alone. Conflict of interest: everyone wants the benefits; but no one wants the burdens of cooperation. We need a system of justice to determine the division of these benefits and burdens.
