Final answer:
John Rawls's theory of justice includes the 'liberty principle,' which grants equal basic liberties to all, and the 'difference principle,' which allows inequalities only when they benefit the least advantaged and are available to all under fair opportunities. T
Step-by-step explanation:
John Rawls, an American philosopher, presented a theory of justice, suggesting that a society should be governed by two major principles.
The first, known as the liberty principle, emphasizes that each person is entitled to equal basic liberties, which includes fundamental freedoms such as freedom of speech, the right to hold property, and freedom of assembly, akin to those protected by the US Bill of Rights.
According to Rawls, these basic liberties are essential and should be granted equally to all individuals to ensure a fair and just society.
The second principle, the difference principle, deals with the acceptable conditions for any social and economic inequalities.
Rawls posits that inequalities should only be permitted if they adhere to two conditions: they must be associated with positions open to all under fair equality of opportunity, and they must beneficially serve the interests of the least advantaged members of society.
This approach is aligned with egalitarian theories of justice, which promote the moral tenet that all individuals are of equal worth and deserve equal rights and opportunities.
In contrast to egalitarianism, civil rights and civil liberties play distinct roles in protecting individual freedoms and ensuring equal treatment under the law.
The constitutionally guaranteed rights, such as those outlined in the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, aim to limit governmental power and safeguard fundamental freedoms. This framework supports Rawls's views on the importance of basic liberties within a society.