A theory of Justice: Revised Edition

The Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals,
pp. 434–436, vol. IV of the Academy
Edition.
513
87. Remarks on Justification

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theory of justice as a viable systematic doctrine so that the idea of maxi-
mizing the good does not hold sway by default. The criticism of tele-
ological theories cannot fruitfully proceed piecemeal. We must attempt to
construct another kind of view which has the same virtues of clarity and
system but which yields a more discriminating interpretation of our moral
sensibilities.
Finally, we may remind ourselves that the hypothetical nature of the
original position invites the question: why should we take any interest in
it, moral or otherwise? Recall the answer: the conditions embodied in the
description of this situation are ones that we do in fact accept. Or if we do
not, then we can be persuaded to do so by philosophical considerations of
the sort occasionally introduced. Each aspect of the original position can
be given a supporting explanation. Thus what we are doing is to combine
into one conception the totality of conditions that we are ready upon due
reflection to recognize as reasonable in our conduct with regard to one
another (§4). Once we grasp this conception, we can at any time look at
the social world from the required point of view. It suffices to reason in
certain ways and to follow the conclusions reached. This standpoint is
also objective and expresses our autonomy (§78). Without conflating all
persons into one but recognizing them as distinct and separate, it enables
us to be impartial, even between persons who are not contemporaries but
who belong to many generations. Thus to see our place in society from
the perspective of this position is to see it 
sub specie aeternitatis:
it is to
regard the human situation not only from all social but also from all
temporal points of view. The perspective of eternity is not a perspective
from a certain place beyond the world, nor the point of view of a tran-
scendent being; rather it is a certain form of thought and feeling that
rational persons can adopt within the world. And having done so, they
can, whatever their generation, bring together into one scheme all indi-
vidual perspectives and arrive together at regulative principles that can be
affirmed by everyone as he lives by them, each from his own standpoint.
Purity of heart, if one could attain it, would be to see clearly and to act
with grace and self-command from this point of view.
514
The Good of Justice

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Conversion Table
Index
Conversion Table

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CONVERSION TABLE
Section
1971 Edition: Pages
1999 Edition: Pages
1
3–6
3–6
2
7–11 
6–10
3
11–17 
10–15 
4
17–22 
15–19 
5
22–27 
19–24 
6
27–33 
24–30 
7
34–40 
30–36 
8
40–45 
36–40 
9
46–53 
40–46 
10
54–60 
47–52 
11
60–65 
52–56 
12
65–75 
57–65 
13
75–83 
65–73 
14
83–90 
73–78 
15
90–95 
78–81 
16
95–100
81–86 
17
100–108
86–93 
18
108–114
93–98 
19
114–117
98–101
20
188–122
102–105
21
122–126
105–109
22
126–130
109–112
23
130–136
112–118
24
136–142
118–123
25
142–150
123–130
26
150–161
130–139
27
161–166
139–144
28
167–175
144–153
29
175–183
153–160
30
183–192
160–168
517

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Section
1971 Edition: Pages
1999 Edition: Pages
31
195–201
171–176
32
201–205
176–180
33
205–211
180–185
34
211–216
186–190
35
216–221
190–194
36
221–228
194–200
37
228–234
200–206
38
235–243
206–213
39
243–251
214–220
40
251–257
221–227
41
258–265
228–234
42
265–274
234–242
43
274–284
242–251
44
284–293
251–258
45
293–298
259–262
46
298–303
263–267
47
303–310
267–273
48
310–315
273–277
49
315–325
277–285
50
325–332
285–292
51
333–342
293–301
52
342–350
301–308
53
350–355
308–312
54
356–362
313–318
55
363–368
319–323
56
368–371
323–326
57
371–377
326–331
58
377–382
331–335
59
382–391
335–343
60
393–399
347–350
61
399–404
350–355
62
404–407
355–358
63
407–416
358–365
64
416–424
365–372
65
424–433
372–380
66
433–439
380–386
67
440–446
386–391
518
Conversion Table

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Section
1971 Edition: Pages
1999 Edition: Pages
68
446–452
392–396
69
453–462
397–405
70
462–467
405–409
71
467–472
409–413
72
472–479
414–419
73
479–485
420–425
74
485–490
425–429
75
490–496
429–434
76
496–504
434–441
77
504–512
441–449
78
513–520
450–456
79
520–529
456–464
80
530–534
464–468
81
534–541
468–474
82
541–548
474–480
83
548–554
480–486
84
554–560
486–491
85
560–567
491–496
86
567–577
496–505
87
577–587
506–514
519
Conversion Table

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Index
Index
Acton, Lord, 189n
Advice, 356–357, 393–394
Accidents of natural endowment, 
see
Dis-
tribution of natural assets
Aggregative-distributive dichotomy, 32–
33, 39, 279–280
Aiken, H. D., 452–453n, 454
Aims, 
see
Desires
Albritton, R. G., 333n
Allocative justice, 56, 77
Alston, W. P., 420n
Alternatives: presentation of, §21:105–
109; ways and difficulties of specify-
ing, 105–107; short list of, 107; condi-
tional alternatives excluded, 108;
argument for principles relative to list
of, 108–109; problem of ad hoc list in
justification, 508–509
Altruism, perfect, 164–165; limited, 
see
Mutual disinterestedness
Amdur, Robert, 99n
Analysis of meaning: role of in moral the-
ory, 44–45, 112–113; and contract
definition of right, 95–96, 161; and
definition of goodness, 352–353; and
thin theory of good, 355–358, 396; and
justification, 506–507
Animals, 15, 441, 448
Anscombe, G. E. M., 49n, 420n, 559n
Approval, 356–357, 373–374
Aquinas, St. Thomas, 189–190, 351n, 554
Archimedean point, 230–232, 511
Arguments for conceptions of justice,