2019 Year 12 IB Extended Essays

Ayn Rand’s Objectivism and John Rawls’ Theory of Justice

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various social contracts and determined that a position between Rawls and Rand as

strong individual and social rights would be most conducive to a contemporary society.

Conclusions

In conclusion, I have established that whilst Ayn Rand’s theory of objectivism was

applicable post World War II, John Rawls’s theory of justice will most likely form the

socio-economic basis for social contracts in the future. The theory of justice provides

us with framework for which social justice becomes universally applicable and free

from bias. He presents his theory in the form of two principles; The Greatest Equal

Liberty Principle and The Difference Principle. These principles deal with the

redistribution of rights through the thought experiment the ‘veil of ignorance’. Rawls

essentially suggests that the social contract should focus on the protection of individual

rights and liberties. Ayn Rand contrasts the Rawlsian view on social justice. Rand

elucidates that man should value self-interest as it is their moral duty to live the best life

they possibly can. Objectivism, as Rand proposes it, is Laissez-faire style capitalism

and promotes only minor intervention by governments.

The Randian arguments contrast Rawls by focussing on rewarding those who have

earned the right to rewards. Rand suggests that one can achieve this through Ethical

Egoism. Rawls’ theory states that the wellbeing of the entire community should be at

the fore front of policy making. However, Rand does provide a sound argument in

regard to being rewarded by the work you do as it takes in to consideration man’s

appetitive soul.

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