Assignment 10: The Social Contract
Your Question: The Difference Principle says that differences in goods, such as wealth, are morally permissible or fair when they are to the most significant benefit of those who are worst off. Do you agree with the Difference Principle? Why or why not?
According to John Rawls, “the principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance. This ensures that no one is advantaged or disadvantaged in the choice of principles by the outcome of natural chance or the contingency of social circumstances” (Rawls 208). In addition, he also argues that any deviation from strict equality must be of the most significant benefit to those who are worst off. The differentiation principle implies that in an instance where the circumstances or situation is different for people in the same society, the difference should benefit those at their worst. I agree with the difference principle that it is morally fair that people are close to equality, such as in wealth. It cannot be ethically right that the boss in a company continues to become richer and richer while his workers deteriorate in poverty with every rising day. Even if there should be differences between them, the difference should be benefiting those in poverty. That is, the boss will be morally fair if he lifts his employees’ lives rather than making them worse.