Rawls

’ View Of Ignorance Essay, Research Paper

Rawls’ View of Ignorance

Rawls theory of justice revolves around the adaptation of two

fundamental principles of justice which would, in turn, guarantee a just and

morally acceptable society. The first principle guarantees the right of each

person to have the most extensive basic liberty compatible with the liberty of

others. The second principle states that social and economic positions are to be

a) to everyone’s advantage and b) open to all.

A key problem to Rawls is to show how such principles would be

universally adopted and here the work borders on general ethical issues. He

introduces a theoretical “veil of ignorance” in which all the “players” in the

social game would be placed in a situation which is called the “original

position”. Having only a general knowledge of the facts of “life and society”,

each player is to abide based on their moral obligation. By denying the players

any specific information about themselves it forces them to adopt a generalized

point of view that bears a strong resemblance to the moral point of view.

“Moral conclusions can be reached without abandoning the prudential

standpoint of positing, a moral outlook merely by pursuing one’s own prudential

reasoning under certain procedural bargaining and knowledge constraints.”

Rawls proposes that the most reasonable principles of justice for a

society are those that individuals would themselves agree to behind the “veil of

ignorance”, in circumstances in which each is represented as a moral person,

endowed with the basic moral powers. What this position supports is that while

each person has different ends and goals, different backgrounds and talents,

each ought to have a fair chance to develop his or her talents and to pursue

those goals – fair equality for opportunity. It is not a race or contest where

the talented or gifted prevail, it should be complete cooperation among all so

that there may be reasonable life for all.

What the “veil of ignorance” brings out is that we can accept

utilitarianism as a public conception of justice only if we are prepared to let

someone be subject to conditions we would not be prepared to subject ourselves.

However, it is not the responsibility of my actions to ensure the fulfillment of

another persons goals. These principles create an equal distribution of the

“pie”, if you will, yet it is not attainable unless pursued or strived for.

There is no room for idle observation, meaning, that while we all possess equal

opportunity as we all are equally moral persons, the choice of what you wish to

possess materially as well as intellectually is the discretion and capability of

the individual.

Why should we accept these principles as principles of justice?

Primarily, these principles promote equality among all. Each individual has the

same basic liberties and opportunities. Each individual has a moral obligation

to accept the existence of every other human being. In doing so, all people

become equal in their position and desires. We are equal in that each has the

basic powers of choice and on acting on a sense of justice. The responsibility

of procedure and growth relies on each and every individual his/her self. By

doing so we may create a level playing field. Is this a form of pure

competition? It would seem so. Competition in that what is desired must be

achieved by one and desired by many perhaps. A benefit of competitive

circumstance is the betterment of all parties involved as they must evolve in

order to surpass one another .

Also, in fair equality for opportunity we may eliminate all forms of

discrimination and discretion of races, ethnic origin, social standards and

religious intolerance and beliefs. All of these characteristics are a component

of the individual person thus making him/her “individual”. Justice is only

succumbed when the liberties of an individual are affected because of an

external opinion of these characteristics, and, in the oppression of these

characteristics upon another. They are nothing more than components of a people.

With the “veil of ignorance” we exempt our responsibility for caring for

that of which we do not know. If we don’t see something physically everyday

should it be an not be a concern or an aspect of our own life? If this were so,

could it not be possible that some things could be ignored by all? The word

ignorance scares me since I am ignorant of many things yet in growth I hope to

become less ignorant through education. Is it only then that I understand

certain circumstances yet since I am not affected personally than I should

continue to ignore. This, it would seem, would then rely on my moral truth or

obligation, yet I will be the one to ultimately decide, this being the

responsibility of all. Can we place that much faith in the moral responsibility

of human kind. It sounds great theoretically yet in practice it almost appears

that this would create more alienation than is present today. Would we become

the exact opposite of what is desired, a selfish and careless society? There

must be caution in placing so much responsibility on moral obligation.