POLITICAL THEORY 2

JUSTICE
AS
FAIRNESS

PRESENTED BY: JETHRO MADRIA & CHARLES DAGUPLO

JOHN RAWLS

Born February 21, 1921, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

—Died November 24, 2002, Lexington,
Massachusetts.

He entered Princeton University, where he earned a

bachelor’s degree in 1943.

Rawls was one of the most prominent American

philosophers of the 20th century.

Best known for his defense of egalitarian liberalism

in his major work, A Theory of Justice (1971).

Rawls was one of the foremost defenders of

Political Liberalism: the idea that government
should be neutral with regard to the question of
what constitutes a good life.
THE MAIN IDEA OF
THE THEORY OF JUSTICE
John Rawls believes that principles of justice for the basic structure of
society are the object of the original agreement.

It serves as principles that free and rational persons concerned to

further their own interests would accept in an initial position of
equality as defining the fundamental terms of their association. These
principles are to regulate all further agreements and they specify the
kinds of social cooperation that can be entered into and the forms of
government that can be established.
THE MAIN IDEA OF
THE THEORY OF JUSTICE
Those who engage in social cooperation choose together, in one joint
act, the principles which are to assign basic rights and duties and to
determine the division of social benefits.

The people are to decide in advance how they are to regulate their
claims against one another and what is to be the foundation charter of
their society. Just as each person must decide by rational reflection
what constitutes his good, that is, the system of ends which it is
rational for him to pursue, so a group of persons must decide once and
for all what is to count among them as just and unjust.
THE ORIGINAL POSITION
AND JUSTIFICATION
In order to create a just society, individuals must begin by imagining a
hypothetical situation called the "Original Position", in which it helps
individuals in formulating the concept of justice.
In the original position, individual are behind a veil of ignorance;

Individuals are asked to determine the principle of

justice that will govern society.
Individuals are unaware of their own personal
characteristics. Simply means that they have no
knowledge of their own place in society and are
completely equal in terms of their starting position.
TWO PRINCIPLES OF
JUSTICE

1. The Principle of Equal Liberty

2. a. The Difference Principle

b. Principle of Fair Equality of Opportunity
TWO PRINCIPLES OF
JUSTICE
The Principle of Equal Liberty
It provide rights equal to the rights of others.

More important or must be a priority over the other principle of

justice.

Imperative for individuals to pursue their own conception of the

good life and to participate fully in social and political life.
TWO PRINCIPLES OF
JUSTICE
The Difference Principle
This principle is also necessary because it recognize that there will
always be some degree of inequality in society. Thus, these
inequalities can be justified when the least advantaged members of
society can benefit.

Grounded still in the idea of fairness.

It provides the needs of the least advantaged members of society.

TWO PRINCIPLES OF
JUSTICE
Principle of Fair Equality of Opportunity
There must be equal access to training for the most desirable
job without being hindered by social and economic inequalities.

He argued that in a just society, individuals should be able to

compete on an equal basis for positions of advantage,
regardless of their social background or personal
characteristics.
What do you think of his philosophy?
John Rawls philosophy was good for the fact that it concerns about the
liberty of each individuals to decide for themselves no matter their
differences. The society in his theory works as a whole as they engage
cooperatively to determine a certain matter. It also highlights the rationality
of a person through individuals deciding what is just and unjust choices for
their desired society. His “justice as fairness” holds a deep meaning because
it doesn’t really imply that justice is fair but rather it highlights that the
principles of justice that individuals agreed upon in a certain situation is fair
and unbiased which is a really interesting way of using justice. And lastly,
unlike from utilitarianism where it disregards the action of individuals whether
it would be right or wrong as long as the outcome is good, then it is
acceptable where on the other hand, justice as fairness upholds the
principles of justice which doesn’t just produce a justifiable outcome but also
makes it rational as it doesn’t undermine an individuals morality.
THANK YOU