Ariadne's Thread on Justice
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The Original Position

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Professor Sidgwick Speaking

Let me interrupt here. We're all over the map with different criticisms. All of you seem to admire Rawls for attempting to find a way to make sure that prejudices about race or gender do not influence our principles of justice. But the agreement seems to end with that. From there on you have criticized Rawls in several ways. I'm going to try to summarize your ideas later.

Right now, let's move on to the two principles proposed by Rawls. Just as a reminder, here is a brief statement of the principles:

  • First: each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive basic liberty compatible with a similar liberty for others.
  • Second: social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both (a) reasonably expected to be to everyone's advantage, and (b) attached to positions and offices open to all.

I've taken these words straight from Rawls. Of course, he elaborated a great deal on this brief statement. It is only here as a reminder of his overall point of view. What can you say in the way of criticism?


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