A teoria da justiça de Rawls e a crítica ao utilitarismo: a primazia do justo em relação ao bem

Abstract

The present work aims to make a bibliographic analysis on the main critics raised by the Rawlsian theory of justice to the Utilitarianism. The central issue of the text presents the main characteristics both from the Utilitarianism and from the theory of justice by Rawls, and works on the concepts of right and good. Therefore, the text is divided in three chapters: 1) Introduction to A Theory of Justice by Rawls; 2) The Rawlsian critique to the Utilitarianism; 3) The answers from A Theory of Justice. The first chapter analyses in a general way the main concepts of Rawls’ work, such as his contractualist stance, indicated by: the original position, the veil of ignorance and the reflective equilibrium. On the second chapter the four critics are presented: i) critic to the prudential individual ; ii) critic to the impartial spectator; iii) the primacy of good over right; iv) instability of personal dignity. The third chapter is dedicated to present the answers of A Theory of Justice to the “shortcomings” of Utilitarianism: i) the primacy of right over good; ii) the human condition – human dignity, according to Rawls; iii) the distributive issue.