The social system should maximize the material well-being of the most vulnerable (least-advantageous) people.

Let us compare two societies: one with income distribution from 100 to 200, the other – from 10 to 500. Which society will be chosen by people?

The first one because they do not know in what end of this distribution they will find themselves in the reality.

 

 

John Rawls (1921-2002)

 

Storchevoy M. A. Corporate Social Responsibility. 2013

Topic 2 (2). Normative Analysis: Deontology

 

2.9. Rational Choice: Rawls

Justice: two definitions

 

There may be two meanings of justice

 

 

Justice of norm application

Adultery in biblical times:a married woman was forbidden to have sex outside the

marriage but her husband had right to have sex with another unmarried woman. If

one woman was not punished while others were – it was UNJUST.

 

Tax evasion. For example, if in a business community it is normal to “optimize” taxes but one businessman is arrested and sent to jail for that – this is UNJUST. (There are informal norms of relationships between the state and the business)

 

 

Justice of a norm

The norm is just if it was established under just (fair) conditions. The fairest

conditions were formulated by Rawls who called his theory Justice as Fairness.

The original position is the most fair condition of deriving norms because

people design a system and are ready to hold the position of the most vulnerable

person.

 

Storchevoy M. A. Corporate Social Responsibility. 2013

Topic 2 (2). Normative Analysis: Deontology

 

2.9.

Application: Actions

 

 

Storchevoy M. A. Corporate Social Responsibility. 2013

Topic 2 (2). Normative Analysis: Deontology