John Rawls And Utilitarianism

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economic situation or anything else
that they could keep in mind to negotiate a better situation to those qualities.
For example, if everyone in this society has an equal amount of influence toward
the establishing of specific laws, a rich man may propose that taxes should be
equal for all rather than proportionate to ones assets. It is for this and
similar situations that Rawls feels that everyone must become oblivious to
themselves. Rawls believes that the foundational guideline agreed upon by the
those in the original position will be composed of two parts. The first of
these rules of justice being one that enforces equal rights and duties for all
citizens and the later of the two one which regulates the powers and wealth of
all citizens.
In the conception of utilitarianism possessed by Rawls, an impartial
spectator and ideal legislator are necessary components. The impartial
spectator is one who rational and sensitive to all of the desires of society.
The impartial ...

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if it benefits society, then inequalities of
political power are acceptable. Although somewhat contradictory, this seems
reasonable since getting the opinions of everyone every time an issue arose
would be, to say the least, inefficient. According to Rawls, justice as
fairness is far more acceptable than utilitarianism. An example taken from The
Encyclopedia of Political Philosophy explains two situations, one acceptable by
Rawls and the other acceptable under utilitarianism. The first states that
slavery, (if beneficial to the slave as well as everyone else), is indeed
acceptable according to Rawls. The second states that under utilitarianism, a
slaves misery would not matter ...

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