John Rawls critique of Utilitarianism
John Rawls Critique of Utilitarianism
John Rawls, one of the most influential political philosophers of the 20th century, offered a comprehensive critique of utilitarianism in his seminal work A Theory of Justice (1971). Rawls’ critique is centered on the idea that utilitarianism fails to adequately protect the rights and dignity of individuals, especially those in disadvantaged or vulnerable positions.
Central Critique: The “Difference Principle”
Rawls argued that utilitarianism, which seeks to maximize overall happiness or utility, does so at the expense of individual rights. Under utilitarianism, policies or actions are judged solely by the sum of their benefits and harms, with no inherent regard for how those benefits and harms are distributed among individuals. This can lead to situations where the interests of a few individuals are sacrificed for the greater good, a problem Rawls identified as a violation of the principle of fairness….
