Making Sense of A Theory of Justice

Abstract

The primary aim of this interpretive essay is to reconstruct some of the most important features of Rawls's theory of justice, and to offer a hypothesis about how its assumptions and arguments are tied together in a highly structured construction. An almost philological approach is adopted to highlight Rawlsian ideas. First, I consider in what sense Rawls is an individualist and in what sense he is not. From this I conclude that he ought not be charged of psychological egoism or atomism. Then I consider the role of rational choice, the contract and the relation of the latter to the criterion of reflective equilibrium. Finally, I enquire whether Rawls can be considered a universalist, and suggest that this category, owing to the theory's practical aim and pragmatic method, is of little use. (edited)