PHIL 338A. Homework Assignment #3 (10 Points):

The Original Position

(To be posted on GoPost by midnight on 9 am on Tuesday July 1).

Approximately one page, double-spaced.

NOTE: TO RECEIVE FULL CREDIT, YOU MUST ATTEND CLASS ON MONDAY READY TO DISCUSS THE HOMEWORK (UNLESS YOUR ABSENCE IS EXCUSED). DO NOT SKIP CLASS OR COME LATE TO CLASS IN ORDER TO FINISH YOUR HOMEWORK. IF YOU DO, YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EXTRA PENALTY ON YOUR GRADE FOR THE ASSIGNMENT.

This assignment requires you to make a posting on the GoPost discussion site for PHIL 338. There is a link to the GoPost discussion site on the PHIL 338 Web page, under Assignment #3.

Post your answer at the end of the conversation titled "Homework Assignment #3". (The first message in that conversation is a message from me that gives the assignment.) To post to that conversation, go to the last message in the conversation and click on "Add to this Conversation". DO NOT START A NEW CONVERSATION FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT. ANYONE WHO STARTS A NEW CONVERSATION FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT WILL GET NO CREDIT FOR THE ASSIGNMENT AND ANYONE WHO POSTS THEIR ASSIGNMENT TO ANY OTHER CONVERSATION OTHER THAN THE "HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT #3" CONVERSATION WILL RECEIVE ONLY ONE-HALF CREDIT. IF YOU MISTAKENLY POST YOUR ANSWER TO THE WRONG CONVERSATION, JUST REPOST IT TO THE CORRECT ONE. Post your answer by 9 am on Tuesday July 1.

Before class on Tuesday July 1, you are expected to read all the postings and to come to class ready to continue the discussion in class. To get full credit for this assignment, you must be present in class to discuss it, unless your absence is excused.

Here is the assignment:

Imagine you are in Rawls's Original Position, behind the Veil of Ignorance: Identify at least one right that you would advocate in the Original Position. Specify the content of the right and show how it could be argued for behind the Veil of Ignorance. (Make sure the reader can understand what your right covers and what it does not from your specification of it. Also, your argument must show that you understand the Veil of Ignorance.) You are responsible for being familiar with all the postings prior to yours. Do not simply repeat a previously posted proposal. If someone has already discussed a right you wanted to discuss, either explain why your proposal differs from the previous posting or discuss another right.

Note: Rawls proposes two principles of justice that he thinks would be agreed to in the Original Position. You may not use Rawls as an authority. Do not assume that those two principles would be agreed to. You must give your own argument for any rights you propose.