John Rawls (1921-2002) – a brief biography

• Hugely influential US Philosopher

• Bridge between modern liberal and social democratic thought?

• Best known work: A Theory of Justice(1972)

“I must reconcile the firm liberal belief in freedom

with the need to prevent excessive inequality in society!”

Q. What needs reconciling?

A. Any measures introduced to reduce or prevent inequality will inevitably result in a loss of liberty for some.

Examples?

If income is more evenly spread, there must be higher taxation for the wealthy.

Introduction of minimum wage interferes with labour markets and curtails the free market.

Try out Rawls’ thought experiment

1. Imagine humankind before society came into being – a natural state.

Rawls calls this the ‘original position’

2. People then asked to create a society which decides how wealth and goods are to be distributed.

3. However, before they make any decisions they are placed behind a ‘veil of ignorance’...which means they do not have any idea of how successful they will be, or how wealthy they will become. Life is a lottery!

So...what did Rawls think we would do?

We would reject Utilitarianism (the greatest good for the greatest number), as we might be the one at the bottom of the pile

We would have equal rights and respect for all as we might be part of a minority group

We would reject Marxism, as human instinct is to strive for reward.

However, we would create a society with a minimum stand of living – no-one should be allowed so much wealth that the worst off in society would fall below that level

So, in practice this means...

• Individuals should be as free as is possible• But these freedoms should not be enjoyed at

the expense of others• Inequalities are allowed, but have to be

justified.• Inequalities can be justified if it increaese the

prosperity of society as a whole.

Rawls’ ‘difference principle’

“Large inequalities can be, but are not necessarily ‘evil’ and can be justified if these inequalities do not disadvantage the least well off. Individual freedom is not universally good – it can only be enjoyed if all have a minimum standard of living.”

So what state intervention could you justify using Rawls’ principle?