Offer a Critique of What John Rawls Meant by ‘Fair Equality of Opportunity’
Q. Offer a critique of what John Rawls meant by ‘Fair Equality of Opportunity’
Introduction:
The purpose of this essay is to discuss what ‘Fair Equality of Opportunity’ means and John Rawls view point on this subject. Rawls was a well known philosopher from the USA and arguably the most important political philosopher of the 20th century. Rawls is well known for using the basic structure of society as his subject matter and most famously for his work entitled, A Theory of Justice (1971). Here he explains how the “logical ordering of principles of justice can help to structure and regulate an ideal structure society” (John Rawls, 2003) This is not to say that the theory of justice principles can be used to restore justice to society, Rawls simply thinks that basic rights and duties assigned to individuals of society should be equally distributed and that if social and economic advantages were to be evenly distributed to all members of society this would inevitably help regulate and maintain an ideal and fair society.
We will look at what Rawls means by “fair equality of opportunity”, by looking at what he believes is fair, equal and what he means by opportunity.
Discussion:
“Rawls argues that the term 'justice as fairness' does not imply that justice and fairness are identical, but that the principles of justice are agreed to under fair conditions by individuals who are in a situation of equality” (John Rawls, 2003). This statement above by Rawls is stating that if individuals are treated fairly this is when justice is being done and equality prevails. There are two principles outlined by Rawls in ‘justice of fairness’ which are:
First Principle:
Each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar system of liberty for all.
Second Principle: (a) To the greatest benefit of the least advantaged, ... and (b) Attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of
Introduction:
The purpose of this essay is to discuss what ‘Fair Equality of Opportunity’ means and John Rawls view point on this subject. Rawls was a well known philosopher from the USA and arguably the most important political philosopher of the 20th century. Rawls is well known for using the basic structure of society as his subject matter and most famously for his work entitled, A Theory of Justice (1971). Here he explains how the “logical ordering of principles of justice can help to structure and regulate an ideal structure society” (John Rawls, 2003) This is not to say that the theory of justice principles can be used to restore justice to society, Rawls simply thinks that basic rights and duties assigned to individuals of society should be equally distributed and that if social and economic advantages were to be evenly distributed to all members of society this would inevitably help regulate and maintain an ideal and fair society.
We will look at what Rawls means by “fair equality of opportunity”, by looking at what he believes is fair, equal and what he means by opportunity.
Discussion:
“Rawls argues that the term 'justice as fairness' does not imply that justice and fairness are identical, but that the principles of justice are agreed to under fair conditions by individuals who are in a situation of equality” (John Rawls, 2003). This statement above by Rawls is stating that if individuals are treated fairly this is when justice is being done and equality prevails. There are two principles outlined by Rawls in ‘justice of fairness’ which are:
First Principle:
Each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar system of liberty for all.
Second Principle: (a) To the greatest benefit of the least advantaged, ... and (b) Attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of
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