Philosophy 2730F/G Study Guide - Original Position, Thought Experiment
20 Mar 2013
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Original position - the mechanism rawls uses to defend his two principles involving the creation of a hypothetical bargaining scenario. Rawls" says in the original position, any rational being would choose these as principles that should be used to regulate the basic institutions of society. In this position, everyone is behind the veil of ignorance they are rationally self-interested and possess knowledge of the basic structure of our existent society, but none know where they fit in society. Rawls believes that in this situation, any rational agent would choose principles that ensure a like liberty for all, and that any introduction of inequalities into society benefit the least well-off. Buckley doesn"t want to use rawls" principles because those principles are designed to regulate basic social institutions, and his interest is the media. The hypothetical scenario and competing principles (second column of 823 824: the bargainers:
