Related Ideas

Rawls distinguishes his theory from what he calls "teleological" theories.  He tells us that:

The  two main concepts of ethics are those of the right and the good; the concept of a morally worthy person is, I believe, derived from them. The structure of an ethical theory is, then largely determined by how it defines and connects these two basic notions. Now it seems that the simplest way of relating them is taken by teleological theories: the good is defined independently from the right, and then the right is defined as that which maximizes the good. [Theory of Justice, section #5]

Given this definition, the utilitarian theory is an example of a teleological theory. Utilitarianism tells us that the good consists of pleasure or happiness or welfare and that the right action is the action that maximizes the creation of the good. Principles of justice are a subset of principles that will, if followed, maximize the creation of good. (There are many varieties of utilitarianism, but the differences do not matter for this point.)

Rawls' theory is not teleological in this sense. It does not define the right in terms of the good and it does not seek to maximize the good. 

This does not mean, however, that Rawls has no interest in consequences. The parties in the original position do consider the consequences of various principles of justice. 

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