Political Science · Political Theory
John Rawls says that under conditions of uncertainty or risk, one should identify the worst possible outcome for each option and then select the option for which the worst outcome is least bad. What is the term for this principle?
AHedging
BMaximin ✓ Correct
CDifference Principle
DLexical Priority
Correct answer: (B) Maximin — The principle of choosing the option whose worst outcome is least bad is called maximin.
Explanation
★The principle of choosing the option whose worst outcome is least bad is called maximin.
★Maximin means maximising the minimum, that is, making the worst position as good as possible.
★Rawls argues that parties in the original position would reason in this cautious maximin way.
★Behind the veil of ignorance they do not know their place in society, so they protect the worst off.
★The difference principle is the result, but maximin is the decision rule that justifies it.
★Lexical priority is the ordering rule that liberty comes before the difference principle.
★Hedging is a general risk strategy and is not Rawls' technical term here.
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