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1994 UCL Jurisprudence Rev. 59 (1994)
Rawls Theory of Justice and his Criticism of Utilitarianism

handle is hein.journals/ucljurev1 and id is 67 raw text is: RAWLS THEORY OF JUSTICE AND HIS CRITICISM OF UTILITARIANISM Selene Brett Introduction In A Theory Of Justice Rawls seeks to construct an alternative to utilitarian thought.' The objective of this essay is to assess how effectively Rawls does this. It concludes that while seeking to create a coherent alternative, Rawls fails to evade fully the criticisms he makes of utilitarianism. His resulting theory therefore contains a good deal of that which he purports to reject. This essay comprises four sections. The first section consists of a brief account of utilitarianism. The second section sets out Rawls's main criticisms of utilitarianism. The third section describes Rawls's alternative to utilitarianism: his theory of justice as fairness The fourth section explores the common ground between Rawls's criticisms of utilitarianism and justice as fairness The fifth section offers a possible explanation for the existence of the similarities uncovered. Utilitarianism Utilitarians perceive society as rightly ordered, and therefore just, when its social institutions serve to maximise aggregate utility. Four key features of utilitarianism are: 1) it has one goal (to maximise utility), 2) it is consequentialist (the rightness of an action depends on the consequences it produces), 3) it emphasizes equality (peoples interests are to weigh equally), and 4) it appeals to rationality. These features of utilitarianism are set out in more detail below. Some of it's faults, subtleties and responses to criticisms are uncovered throughout the course of this essay. Utilitarianism is monistic it identifies as the sole basis of morality the requirement that happiness (or however one defines utility)2 be maximised. As Glover writes: Happiness is the only thing that is good in itself. Unhappiness is the only thing that is bad in itself. Everything else is only good or bad in its tendency to produce happiness or unhappiness. Other values (such as liberties, rights and deserts) are relevant only insofar as they affect this one supreme aim. Utilitarianism is forward-looking. It evaluates the probable consequences of possible present actions in order to assess their justifiability. Past events and principles of common morality 'A Theory OfJustice (TJ) p.22 2 Throughout the course of this essay, I will define it as welfare Utilitarianism And Its Critics 59 Digitized from Best Copy Available

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