The Search for a Fair Society: Rawls’ Difference Principle, Self-Respect, and the Motivation to Cooperate

October 15. You’re welcome here. Grab a coffee and let’s talk about a realistic utopia of a fair society because that’s the only way to organize our cooperation in such a way that violence and wars are eliminated.

Rawls’ Difference Principle states that differences between members of a society can be the result of the dataset the members of this society use in the self-generation process of their individual models of the world to align their reality enough to achieve the level of cooperation they aim for. But these differences can be justified only if they ultimately benefit everyone, and, specifically, that they should be to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged members of society. Differences are thereby not simply limited to the distribution of money/ income and wealth, but the economic power and control, and of opportunities for self-respect.

That leads to the question, how to measure self-respect?

That’s hard as it’s a subjective state of mind. But, according to Rawls, there are a few objective features of our social and economic institutions to be used, incl. the availability and nature of paid work.

-      People will only feel their life is worthwhile if they have opportunities to develop and apply their skills and abilities in interesting and complex ways. So, self-respect depends on meaningful work.

-      Without the recognition of our peers, it’s hard to maintain a strong sense that our goals in life are worthwhile. And when we feel that our plans are of little value, we cannot pursue them with pleasure or take delight in their execution. So, self-respect depends on social recognition.

-      Being unemployed and dependent on the state for income can undermine one’s sense of agency, especially the intrusive systems of assessment and conditionality that exist in most means-tested benefit systems, and the stigma and suspicion that are often directed at those who are unable to work. So, self-respect depends on agency and having confidence in our ability to achieve our goals.

Today, I think, we can simplify this whole, difficult to tackle debate about self-respect by focusing on the motivation to cooperate that every single member of society shares, and that makes them willing to change their individual models of the world for the worse because what they gain by taking this step back will make up for any initial loss. Every single member wants to get an increased ability to conduct random searches without the fear that failure will affect their chances of survival out of the social contract. It’s about discovering, developing and applying one’s natural skills and abilities throughout one’s life. It’s about trying things out. It’s about leaning into the unknown, exploring and paving one’s path as one sees fit not as it’s customary. If that’s the result of how society is organized for every single member, self-respect will not be a problem.

Any thoughts? Tell me. Tell all. Since our models of the world change with every new information we gather and the models are only accessible to others when we communicate them, we are part of never-ending negotiations that require constant conversation and debate.

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