Introduction to Political Philosophy

Two Principles of Justice

As you read the material for the next class, keep the questions below in mind. To answer these questions you will have to reflect critically on what you have read and possibly re-read important passages. Keep in mind that there are two basic kinds of information that you need to look for in the readings.

1. What are the main points or conclusions that an author accepts with respect to a particular issue?
2. What are the reasons or important considerations that lead the author to accept that conclusion?

For our purposes, it is information of the latter sort (2) that will be our primary concern since our most basic task is to evaluate the reasons that are offered to support accepting one possible conclusion about an issue, rather than another. Although I strongly suggest that you write out brief answers to these questions, you do not have to turn in written responses. You do, however, need to be prepared to speak intelligently to these issues in the next class meeting.

Reading:

• John Rawls, A Theory of Justice, Chapter II (Sections 11-14, 17), pp. 52-78, 86-93.

Questions:

1. What are the two principles of justice? What is their relative priority? Of what general conception of justice are these a special case?
2. What is the principle of efficiency? Why is it not satisfactory as a principle of justice and why don’t the system of natural liberty and liberal equality make it more attractive?
3. What is the difference principle? What is fair equality of opportunity? Why do these lead to a more satisfactory account of justice in the form of democratic equality?
4. What does Rawls mean by pure procedural justice and how is it related to fair equality of opportunity?
5. What other principles is the difference principle related to? Why is a meritocratic society entailed by Rawls’ principles?

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