PHIL 120 · Ethics and Political Philosophy — Justice as Fairness and the Original Position

Led by John Rawls

The sixth module of the Cambridge Part IA Ethics paper, led by John Rawls. To answer the tension that left Mill's liberty exposed to utility, Rawls grounds justice non-utilitarianly. Principles are fair if they would be chosen in a situation that is fair — the original position, behind a veil of ignorance. The module builds the device step by step, from the basic structure and the revived social contract to the maximin reasoning, reflective equilibrium, and the critique of utilitarianism as failing to take seriously the distinction between persons.

1. Module 6 ○ Open

   Justice as Fairness and the Original Position

   Led by John Rawls

   The question

   What are the principles of a just society, and how could we justify them to people who disagree deeply about how to live? Rawls's answer is that just principles are those that would be agreed in a fair situation of choice — the original position, behind a veil of ignorance that hides from each chooser their class, talents, and conception of the good. Unable to tailor the rules to their own advantage, rational choosers would secure equal basic liberties for all and permit inequalities only where these improve the position of the least advantaged. The module builds this device step by step and shows how it grounds justice without the aggregation that, in utilitarianism, allows the few to be sacrificed for the many — because each person possesses an inviolability that the welfare of society as a whole cannot override.

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