John Rawls was an American moral legal and political philosopher in the liberal tradition As per the...........

Indian Polity Introduction

John Rawls was an American moral, legal and political philosopher in the liberal tradition. As per the views of John Rawls the only way we can arrive at a fair and just rule is

If we imagine ourselves to be in a situation in which we have to make decisions about how society should be organised without presuming our position

If we do not look at the means and stress at the ends reached by any exercise in rule making

If we take care of the needs of not only our own community but also communities and individuals dependent on us

If we first define what kind of society we want ourselves to be and then fix the position and status of each individual in the society

छोटे Courses बड़े Results

Master Introduction

Prepare through Micro-courses

Try Now

Explanation:

He says that we should imagine that we are in that situation although we do not know which position we would ourselves occupy in that society. That is, we do not know what kind of family we would be born in, whether we would be born into an ‘upper’ caste or ‘lower’ caste family, rich or poor, privileged or disadvantaged. Rawls argues that if we do not know, in this sense, who we will be and what options would be available to us in the future society, we will be likely to support a decision about the rules and organisation of that future society which would be fair for all the members. Rawls describes this as thinking under a ‘veil of ignorance’. He expects that in such a situation of complete ignorance about our possible position and status in society, each person would decide in the way they generally do, that is, in terms of their own interests. But since no one knows who he would be, and what is going to benefit him, each will envisage the future society from the point of view of the worst-off. It will be clear to a person who can reason and think for himself, that those who are born privileged will enjoy certain special opportunities.