Rawls' Theory of Justice proposes two fundamental principles of justice that should guide the basic structure of society: 1) Each person has an equal right to basic liberties like freedom of speech and religion, 2) Social and economic inequalities are just only if they result in compensating benefits for everyone, especially the least advantaged members of society. Rawls argues these principles would be chosen by rational individuals in an original position behind a veil of ignorance, where they do not know their place in society. His theory uses a thought experiment of a hypothetical social contract to derive principles of justice for a well-ordered society.

1. Rawls Theory of Justice
Online at: http://www.slideshare.net/hughbar/
Background (from Stanford Encylopedia)

Son of a lawyer (clearly affected style and
approach, 'case law' can feed back into higher
principles: reflective equilibrium)

Involved in war (fragility/capriciousness of fate:
see also Nussbaum)

2. Defining Features

Loosens tie beween moral and political, freer to argue and do
'society creation'

Like Plato, concerned with trying for 'justice'

Coherentist: (with evolving viewpoint) reflective equilbrium
following (internal?) debate

(according to him, but not to Nagel) Somewhat Kantian
(categorical imperative), 'big' general motor (the principles) to
power the rest

Contract-based, the 'original position' (but is this a 'virtual
contract' or thought experiment, sidesteps some criticims)

3. Defining Features 2

Optimistic:

Assumes rationality of individuals

Assumes inbuilt sense of justice of individuals
(I think, or just rationality)

Utopian (society/world building like Plato)

Wants to be 'optimal' (utilitarianism allows
inequalities/suffering in context of maximal
'happiness', see minimax:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimax)

4. Notes on Primary Reading 1
§1

Justice is the first virtue

But, immediately anti utilitarian/anti-'intuitionism'

Public conception justice motor of well-ordered human
association

Coordination, efficiency, flexiblity also necessary

Legal oration, to some extent

5. Notes on Primary Reading 2
§2

Social justice only (political, economic, social, this is
one of the 'controversies')

No reason to argue for all cases (private societies,
international cases later)

Start with ideal theory (Kantian), used to deal later
with detail problems

In principle, no pleonexia, anywhere in system even if
of benefit (anti-utilitarian, improve not invade)

6. Notes on Primary Reading 3
§3,4,11

Original position (the virtual contract)

Veil of Ignorance (thought experiment for the
'rational' to choose 'their' society)

Two principles arranged lexically

Not dealt with in detail, since this is bulk of the
Rawls lecture notes

7. Notes on Primary Reading 4

§24: Veil of ignorance, except of 'general facts about society'
(another difficulty, how much 'ignorance'?)

Justice should generate its own support (bootstrapping)

§25: Mutually disinterested rationality (sounds a bit like Ayn
Rand!)

§26

8. Criticisms 1

(IMO) Looser tie with ethics etc. I find that OK and sensible

Difference principle: Lots of people (well, philosophers) argue about
this, for example maximal inequality for minimal but slight
'improvement' (for example: current society? The Sheep Look Up)

Arguing sensibly about existing societies: Same problems as lots of
'contracts'

Neo-Platonists (!) Philosopher kings not included, some kind of
democracy is pre-baked into this

Nozick: Property rights not included, base freedoms abandoned at
outset (therefore, for him: probably unambitious and maximal)

Hayek: Doesn't believe in social justice at all (well what do you
expect)

Wolfe/economists etc. Granularity of share: assumed individual
persons

9. Criticisms 2

Are the natural and social primary goods OK? (Maslow?)

Mathematical arguments in §26 muddy the idea of justice

What are just institutions? (governance: consider the PACs,
superPACs and super-delegates in the US, for example)

Following Wolfe et al. Granularity of society, families, private
groups etc.

In general, value of community is ignored, about individuals

Supposing 'intuitionism' is 'right' (my pick)

Choice, birth and circumstance (key parts of advantage and
disadvantage

10. Reward !
Congratulations: You have reached the end of
this, Easter Eggs:
https://youtu.be/BaRx52OD8IY