answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Briefly,

John Rawls is best known for his liberal theory of justice, or justice as fairness. Its defining characteristic is its acknowledgment that society is made up of individuals who espouse many disparate beliefs and conceptions of 'the good.' Government of a society which is based on certain conceptions of the good-- religious, moral, etc-- causes problems because people whose views differ end up straight disrespected by law.

To establish the basic rules for the government of society, Rawls discusses what he calls "the original position" (OP). In OP, subjects are placed behind a veil of ignorance. Behind the veil we are not aware of our sex, class, intelligence, physical ability, or anything else that would distinguish us in the normal world. Subjects in OP are granted rationality, self-interestedness, knowlege that resources are moderately scarce, and the knowledge that there are many others under the same conditions and asked to pick the basic rules by which their society should be governed.

Choosing principles behind veil of ignorance ensures they are not tailored to favour anyone in any particular position. The simplest way to look at it is to imagine being assigned the task of cutting up a pie without knowing which piece you're going to get. You want to be certain you get the biggest piece, so you'll cut the pie into perfectly even pieces.

The principals Rawls arrives at are:

1) Each person shall be allowed the most extensive scheme of liberty compatible with a similar scheme for everyone else.

2) a) Offices of power shall be attached to positions open to all. b) Inequality must benefit the least advantaged.

With the basic rights established, the idea is that everyone is able to pursue their conceptions of the good, as long as it doesn't entail hoarding resources or inhibiting others' ends. Rawls's theory of justice is related to Kant's Metaphysics of Morals because of the importance it places on the individual will, each person as an end in him/herself and locating the right prior to the good.

User Avatar

Wiki User

βˆ™ 14y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What are the rawls's ethics?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What is the difference between ethics and little ethics?

Regular ethics are the science of morals, and morals or little ethics are guidelines of ethics.


What is universal ethics?

ethics


What does a company code of ethics cover?

Ethics and the law


What is the three subsections of philosophical ethics?

Normative ethics, metaethics, and applied ethics


What has the author Mary Beth Ingham written?

Mary Beth Ingham has written: 'The harmony of goodness' -- subject- s -: Medieval Ethics, Ethics, Christian ethics, History 'The harmony of goodness' -- subject- s -: Christian ethics, Ethics, Ethics, Medieval, History, Medieval Ethics


What is environmental ethics?

Environmental ethics is the application of ethics to human relationships with the environment. Like all ethics, it is influenced by a person's worldview.


What has the author W R Sorley written?

W. R. Sorley has written: 'A history of English philosophy' -- subject(s): English Philosophy, History 'The ethics of naturalism' -- subject(s): Ethics, Evolutionary Ethics 'Recent tendencies in ethics' -- subject(s): Ethics 'On the ethics of naturalism' -- subject(s): Ethics, Evolutionary Ethics


What has the author James R Thobaben written?

James R. Thobaben has written: 'Health-care ethics' -- subject(s): Religious aspects of Medical ethics, Medical ethics, Christianity, Christian ethics 'Health-care ethics' -- subject(s): Medical ethics, Christianity, Christian ethics


What has the author Noel Preston written?

Noel Preston has written: 'Ethics for the Public Sector' 'Understanding ethics' -- subject(s): Ethics, Ethics .


Find the etymology of ethics?

etymological ethics


What is accounting ethics?

Accounting ethics is primarily a field of applied ethics, the study of moral values and judgments as they apply to accountancy. It is an example of professional ethics.


What has the author Mirko Wischke written?

Mirko Wischke has written: 'Die Geburt der Ethik' -- subject(s): Ethics, Ethics, Modern, Modern Ethics 'Kritik der Ethik des Gehorsams' -- subject(s): Ethics, Ethics, Modern, Modern Ethics