Philosophy 305 Professor Birgit Tregenza

Philosophy 305 Prof Tregenza

STUDY QUESTIONS

RAWLS & NOZICK

1. What is Rawls definition of a human society?

2. What is the natural lottery?

3. How does Rawls justify using the Veil of Ignorance to determine the organizing and regulating principles for human society?

4. Describe the four branches of government in Rawls fair society.

5. What are the primary tasks and aims of each of the four branches?

6. What is Nozicks main attack on Rawls approach to designing a fair society?

7. What is Nozicks Wilt Chamberlain Case? What is this case intended to prove?

8. Imagine a round table discussion between John Rawls and Robert Nozick. Suppose they were each asked to comment on the OIL RIG CASE (Donaldson, p. 221 -2)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. Suppose the two principles of justice that Rawls articulates were suddenly applied to the global society at large. Describe some of the ways the application would change how the global human society functions. Do you think that this would produce a morally preferable global society? Discuss.

2. Nozick wants personal liberty to be maximized. Would guaranteeing everyone a social minimum as Rawls suggests reduce or increase personal liberty?

3. Rawls wants to equalize the starting [points of individuals by guaranteeing everyone a social minimum. He does, however, stop short of changing the social institution we call family and the social division we call gender. Do you think that family and gender interfere with the personal liberty of all individuals? Discuss.PAGE 1