Essay Database

The social contract theory of John Rawls challenges utilitarianism by pointing out the impracticality of the theory. Mainly, in a society of utilitarians, a citizens rights could be completely ignored if injustice to this one citizen would benefit the rest of society. Rawls believes that a social contract theory, similar those proposed by Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, would be a more logical solution to the question of fairness in any government. Social contract theory in …

…proposed by Rawls and that the parties involved would eventually come to a mutually beneficial social contract. However, I must agree with Nozick that Rawls fails to examine the true fairness of his theories. If Rawls were to consider, as Nozick states, 'the manner in which assets were acquired', and then use this concept to further define his second principle of justice, then he would surly be open to far less criticism. -Heath C. Hoculock