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That's actually the more specific criticism of Rawls: he argues behind the veil of ignorance people generally would promote the interests of the worst off above
by notahacker 5y ago
That's actually the more specific criticism of Rawls: he argues behind the veil of ignorance people generally would promote the interests of the worst off above all else, and critics (including those who think the veil of ignorance is a great concept) disagree with this conclusion (which depends on an additional assumption we are extremely risk averse)
- jonathanstrange 5y agoThis critique comes from utilitarians like Harsanyi and misses Rawls's point. (He's not a utilitarian anyway.) You can be extremely risk prone and nevertheless come to the conclusion that society ought to help you in the unlikely event that you have to endure extreme hardships. There is a difference between personal risk taking behaviour and the more abstract, general considerations behind the veil of ignorance.