1. How does Rawls go about defining the social contract? What is he most concerned with? What name does he give the principles that the social contract will be based upon?

1. Describe the original position. What is Rawls using it for and why is it important?

1. Why does Rawls see a definition of justice as important in a society? What else is created from a society's conception of justice?

1. Explain why Rawls is against a utilitarian approach to philosophical decisions?

1. Outline the two principles of justice that Rawls describes.

1. In what sense are the principles of justice social in nature?

1. Explain what the veil of ignorance is and its place in the discussion in terms of determining the principles of justice as fairness. And, explain this quote: "[through the veil of ignorance] One excludes the knowledge of those contingencies which sets men at odds and allows them to be guided by their prejudices"(920-921).

1. Why is it important, in order for the principle of justice to be valid, that all people be willing to agree to it? Why is this a difficult task? Why is it an important task?

1. Explain this quote: : ". . .I assume that eventually we shall find a description of the initial situation that both expresses reasonable conditions and yields principles which match our considered judgments duly pruned and adjusted. This state of affairs I refer to as reflective equilibrium"(921). What process is he referring to? What is he trying to balance? Why might conclusions (or equilibriums) change over time?

1. Why is the original position hypothetical only? Since it's only hypothetical, why should we care about it? Why is it important? What ultimately is the original position being used for?

1. Outline the two principles of justice given on page 922. What rights are protected under each of the principles?

1. How does Rawls end up dealing with inequality of income? What is the principle he outlines in terms of allowing some people to make more money than others? What's the difference principle? Explain his view of injustice.

1. Explain this quote: "Whether men are free is determined by the rights and duties established by the major institutions of society. Liberty is a certain pattern of social forms"(924).

1. Explain this quote: "One is not allowed to justify differences in income or in positions of authority and responsibility on the ground that the disadvantages of those in one position are outweighed by the greater advantages of those in another. Much less can infringements of liberty be counterbalanced in this way"(924).

1. Explain this quote: "The democratic interpretation. . .is arrived at by combining the principle of fair equality of opportunity with the difference principle. . .the higher expectations of those better situated are just if and only if they work as part of a scheme which improves the expectations of the least advantaged members of society"(924). How does this relate to the distribution of wealth?