PSYC 170 Lecture 9: Social Contract -- Rawls
Document Summary
John rawls (1921-2002: a theory of justice (1971, abandoned religion after war. Basic structure of society: certain institutions are necessary for social cooperation in any society: political constitution, property, the economy with transfers and exchange, the family, the basic institutions can be organized singly and jointly in many different ways. E. g. monarchy vs. democracy; private vs public ownership of mp: how the basic institutions are organized has profound influence on everyone"s future prospects, and on the kinds of persons we are and can come to be (cf. Rousseau: rawls"s principles of justice apply to the basic structure of society, not to our individual conduct and transactions. Ex: roomates matthew (plays flute) and luke (plays clarinet) agree to take turns practicing in the apt 4 hr/day. Luke buys drums and says the should now practice anytime they want: luke practices 8 hrs/day and matthew zero, principe guiding luke"s arrangement to each according to his/her threat advantage" (or bargaining power)
