On John Rawls vs Robert Nozick
Who has the better vision for society?
A society is well-ordered when it is not only designed to advance the good of its members but when it is also effectively regulated by a public conception of justice.” — John Rawls (A Theory of Justice)
John Rawls was one of the 20th century’s most influential philosophers who came into recognition during the release of his seminal book, A Theory of Justice.
In it, he details a society best constructed so as to form a well-ordered and just society. Topics like this, particularly in political philosophy, has been written on for quite some time. But Rawls presented a novel method for reaching such an outcome — an ingenious one that would provide for the redistribution throughout a society; specifically, as regards how it is to benefit those worst-off in that society.
He does this through what he calls the “Veil of Ignorance.” A thought experiment centered around a criterion which contends that one not knowing their position within society (with respect to their race, class, natural abilities, gender, etc) would allow for an individual to choose the ways in which a just society can be formed.
