The Problem Of Knowledge In The Original Position

Much has been written about John Rawls' A Theory of Justice. One of its most distinctive features is the "original position" in which principles of justice are chosen. In this paper I discuss the formulation of the orj-ginal position and, in particular, the conditions of knowledge that Rawls puts on it. I will also discuss the relationship between the original position and what I shall call the "entry condition." I will argue that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to satisfy all of Rawls 1 requirements for the original position. I end with a discussion of changes that could be made in the system and the effects they would have.