Hayek and Rawls take different paths along their journey to reach what they believe the proper form of distributive justice would be. They both follow liberal ideology, focusing more on the individual. Hayek follows a line of thinking based on liberty, utility, and a “economic order based on the market,” and with that with that economic order comes capitalism as the most viable option for the society (Hayek, LLL p.68). Hayek believes that this society will offer the best opportunities for access to the benefits that any society has to offer. Rawls takes another position on this subject, starting from the question of, “what is the best conception of justice for a democratic society” Rawls answers that question by forming an argument for justice …show more content…
He believes that all people in a society are free, equal, and have a drive for cooperation with each other. Once the grounding principles are put into place, then the Original Position acts as a filtering device for Rawls’s principles. The Original Position takes under it “the veil of ignorance,” which helps to block a person’s past and biases, allowing them to choose the best principles for all. From the “veil of ignorance” gets the principles equal basic rights for all, equality of opportunity, and the difference principle. The first principle “requires equality in basic rights and duties, while the second holds that social and economic inequalities...are just only if they result with compensating benefits...particularly for the least well off” (Rawls, TJ p.13). Rawls, through the difference principle, is giving priority to the least well off of a society, and this would be Rawls’ distributive justice. He believes because every member of society is free and equal we are all entitled the benefits from society, and also have a society where the least well off are brought up to the highest degree. Rawls believes that social cooperation in a democratic society is the major component to making the most beneficial society for all. Rawls criticizes utilitarianism as focusing too much on society being a “forum for the coordination of activities,” while society is based off connections and the cooperation between citizens (Platz, Rawls p.1). Hayek also focuses on laws that would make the