Contemporary Moral Problems

Book Review Chapter 1: Ethical Theories:

John Rawls: A Theory of Justice

Library Reference: N/A

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0534584306/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233793391&sr=8-1

Quote:  “principles are there to ensure that no one is to take any advantage or have disadvantage over situations.”

    The principles are actually a good thing. It serves as a guidance and security in a way. In that case, we have justice and this explains part of the theory.

Learning Expectation:

    This chapter will be discussing about the Theory of Justice. Many actually think that justice is justice. It serves as a peace and a fair settlement in the most respectable manner. People usually take justice as it is because I think that its mostly philosophers who expound things, just like justice. So basically, in this chapter, I want to learn all about this theory of justice and how it does affect the world. Of course, not all theory is taken into account because after all, they are just theories and not facts. So it would also be interesting to see how this turns out.

Review:

    As I have mentioned in my learning expectation, many actually think that justice is justice. It serves as a peace and a fair settlement in the most respectable manner. People usually take justice as it is because I think that its mostly philosophers who expound things, just like justice. Of course, not all theory is taken into account because after all, they are just theories and not facts.

    To give you a brief introduction and background on the author, John Rawls, Rawls is actually a professor also, just like the many philosophers who also are professors. Rawls taught at the Harvard University. And just like many philosophers who taught, Rawls is the author of books, namely Justice as Fairness: A Restatement, and The Law of Peoples. This reading though is taken from his book called A Theory of Justice, which he wrote even before the two books mentioned.

Rawls theory states that there are two principles of justice, which is involving equal right to the most extensive basic liberty compatible with a similar liberty for others and the other principle is the arrangement of social and economic inequalities. As what Rawls said, these are the principles that free and rational persons would accept in a hypothetical original position where there is a veil of ignorance hiding from the contractors all the particular facts about themselves.

What I’ve learned:

    I have learned that there are principles, which are actually there to ensure that no one is to take advantage of situations, which is actually good.

Questions:

1.    Can the principles make justice?

2.    What does other philosophers say?

3.    Do people believe this?

4.    Are these principles effective?

5.    Are they being used today?

Citation: (James E. White, St. Cloud State University, 2003)