Kant's Veil Of Ignorance

Meagan Holt
Professor Hutton
PHIL 121 C01
7 August 2017
Final Exam

2. Discuss the concept of the “good will” in Kant’s ethics, paying particular attention to its role in determining the moral value or moral worth of actions.
Kant’s main focus is on the motives behind someone’s action, rather than the good or bad that may come from that action. To Kant, good will is the core worth of an action. In other words, even if a good will does not turn out to perform it intended action, or good outcome, it can still be considered a good will if the motives behind the action are good in itself. Good will is good in itself. Finally, good will acts alongside with the universal law – one should act as if his or her will was to become the universal law. Kant says that our actions are moral if we would want it to become a universal law, not just for ourselves, but for everyone.
3. Explain what the “veil of ignorance” is and how Rawls suggests that it could be used to establish a just society.

For example, behind this "veil," a person knows nothing of his or her social, economic, racial, status in society. Rawls suggests that if we all come together behind the “veil of ignorance”, we become equal in society. In return, using the veil of ignorance can be used to establish a just society because only then will the principles that are agreed upon be principles of justice. That is how the hypothetical social contract