The Difference Principle by John Rawls
This paper examines John Rawls’s Difference Principle, a central element of his theory of justice as fairness. While Rawls argues that economic inequality is justified if it benefits the least advantaged, critics challenge this view, emphasizing the neglect of merit-based rewards and diverse human values. The study explores both Rawls’s reasoning and major objections, especially the conflict between collective fairness and individual moral or spiritual priorities.
References
Mongin, P. & Pivato, M. (2019). Rawls’s Difference Principle and maximin rule of allocation: A new analysis. SSRN Electronic Journal.
Rawl, J. (1971). A theory of justice (revised edition). The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
Reference
StudyCorgi. (2025, May 29). The Difference Principle by John Rawls. https://studycorgi.video/the-difference-principle-by-john-rawls/