Review Questions:

1. Carefully explain Rawl's conception of the orginal position.
2. State and explain Rawl's first principle of justice.
3. State and explain the second principle. Which principle has priority such that it cannot be sacrified?

Discussion Questions: 

1. On the first principle, each person has an equl right to the most extensive basic liberty as long as this does not interfere with a similar liberty for others. What dies this allow people to do? Does it mean, for example that people have a right to engage in homosexual activities as long as they don't interfere with others? Can people produce and view pornography if it does not restrict anyone's freedom? Are people allowed to take drugs in privacy of their homes?
2. Is it possible for free and rational persons in the original position to agree upon different principles than those given by Rawls? For example, why wouldn't they agree to an equal distributio of welath and income rather than an unequal distribution? That is why wouldn't they adopt socialism rather than capitalism? Isn't socialism just as rational as capitalism?