Primary goods are presented in the book ''
A Theory of Justice
''A Theory of Justice'' is a 1971 work of political philosophy and ethics by the philosopher John Rawls (1921-2002) in which the author attempts to provide a moral theory alternative to utilitarianism and that addresses the problem of distrib ...
'' (1971) written by the American philosopher
John Rawls
John Bordley Rawls (; February 21, 1921 – November 24, 2002) was an American moral, legal and political philosopher in the liberal tradition. Rawls received both the Schock Prize for Logic and Philosophy and the National Humanities Medal in ...
.
In the first edition of the ''Theory of Justice'', these goods are supposed to be desirable for every human being, just as they are also useful for them. Thus, primary goods are the common base for the unanimous selection of the justice principle in the
original position.
Primary goods are subdivided in two categories:
* ''Natural primary goods'': this category includes intelligence, imagination, health, speed etc.
* ''Social primary goods'': this category includes rights (civil rights and political rights), liberties, income and wealth, the social bases of self-respect, etc.
In the second edition of the ''Theory of Justice'', primary goods are stated to be those that the citizens need as free people and as members of the society.
See also
*
John Rawls
John Bordley Rawls (; February 21, 1921 – November 24, 2002) was an American moral, legal and political philosopher in the liberal tradition. Rawls received both the Schock Prize for Logic and Philosophy and the National Humanities Medal in ...
*
Welfarism
In its most general sense, welfarism is a #As a theory of value, theory about what has value or what matters. It can be defined as the view that well-being is the only thing that has Axiology#Intrinsic value, intrinsic value. ''Pure welfarists'' ho ...
*
Utilitarianism
In ethical philosophy, utilitarianism is a family of normative ethical theories that prescribe actions that maximize happiness and well-being for all affected individuals.
Although different varieties of utilitarianism admit different chara ...
References
* Rawls J., ''A Theory of Justice'', Belknap, United States, 1971.
*
Sen A., Equality of What?, The Tanner Lecture on Human Values, Stanford University, May 1979.
Deontological ethics
Concepts in ethics
Quality of life
John Rawls
{{ethics-stub