How do you feel about the veil of ignorance and the difference principle?

If you've ever read John Rawls you know what I'm talking about.

The veil of ignorance

"Parties to the original position know nothing about their particular abilities, tastes, and position within the social order of society.

The veil of ignorance blocks off this knowledge, such that one does not know what burdens and benefits of social cooperation might fall to him/her once the veil is lifted. With this knowledge blocked, parties to the original position must decide on principles for the distribution of rights, positions and resources in their society. As Rawls put it, "...no one knows his place in society, his class position or social status; nor does he know his fortune in the distribution of natural assets and abilities, his intelligence and strength, and the like".[5] The idea then, is to render moot those personal considerations that are morally irrelevant to the justice or injustice of principles meant to allocate the benefits of social cooperation.

For example, in the imaginary society, one might or might not be intelligent, rich, or born into a preferred class. Since one may occupy any position in the society once the veil is lifted, the device forces the parties to consider society from the perspective of all members, including the worst-off and best-off members."

Difference principle

"1. Each person has an equal claim to a fully adequate scheme of equal basic rights and liberties, which scheme is compatible with the same scheme for all; and in this scheme the equal political liberties, and only those liberties, are to be guaranteed their fair value.

2. Social and economic inequalities are to satisfy two conditions: (a) They are to be attached to positions and offices open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity; and (b), they are to be to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged members of society. (Rawls 1993, pp. 56. The principles are numbered as they were in Rawls' original A Theory of Justice.)"

I think we should use these two principles to structure society

If you've ever read John Rawls you know what I'm talking about.

ayaqoob1

ok then

*leaves*

I'll tell you after my next college philosophy course.

I quite enjoy me some good ignorance, when prepared correctly.

When behind the veil you know that in the coming society, there will be those at the top and those at the bottom.  You don't know where you will be in any of it, you are completely ignorant of your own circumstances to come.

Given the uncertainty, one would think a rational, self-interested person would see to it that the very bottom is protected so as to protect themself if that is where they end up.

Of course Lai would disagree because he is a mentally challenged idiot.

If Ayn Rand or any "rational" person were in such a situation, they would chose the same.

But I digress.

The veil of ignorance doesn't strike me as very cogent, even though it's an interesting theory. I'm ok with the difference principle I guess. ghoklebutter

It is simply a thought exercise.

Though I am of the opinion that it shows the modern welfare state is inevitable and should be accepted.

.

:roll:

I hereby rename it "the rule of empathy" and many people will reject notions such as this.

We live in a world where socialism is regarded as communism and liberalism has become capitalism.