Philosophy Quotes

"The world is not just a collection of unrelated goods but involves complex relationships and dependencies."

"Each person is an end in himself, not merely a means to the ends of others."

"Each person has a separateness and integrity that cannot be violated for aggregate social gain."

"Utilitarianism fails to take seriously the distinction between persons."

"Self-ownership is fundamental to moral and political philosophy."

"Moral philosophy must begin with the recognition of individual rights as constraints."

"Moral constraints emerge from recognizing the separateness of persons."

"An individual's rights place constraints on what others may do to that person."

"Moral philosophy must account for the fact that each person is an independent being."

"Moral philosophy begins with respect for individual autonomy and self-determination."

"The concept of self-ownership grounds all other moral and political principles."

"The moral status of persons places limits on what can be done to them for social benefit."

"Rights do not depend on their consequences or social utility."

"Moral constraints reflect the separateness and inviolability of persons."

"Moral philosophy must be grounded in respect for individual autonomy."

"Rights function as constraints that cannot be overridden by good consequences."

"Moral philosophy must recognize that persons cannot be merely parts of a larger whole."

"Respecting persons as ends in themselves requires recognizing their property rights."

"The original position is a device for representing fairness in social cooperation."

"Rational persons would choose principles of justice behind a veil of ignorance."

"The social contract is reconceived as an ideal agreement to be fair to all parties."

"The veil of ignorance abstracts from knowledge of one's particular position in society."

"The idea of a social contract is best understood as representing fairness among free persons."

"Justice as fairness is a constructivist approach that defines right independently of the good."

"The circumstances of justice obtain when people must cooperate despite conflicts of interest."

"Political society is characterized by inevitable disagreement about fundamental matters."

"The right and the good must be kept analytically distinct in liberal political philosophy."

"Justice as fairness provides a framework for thinking about social cooperation among free people."

"The exception is more interesting than the rule; the rule proves nothing, the exception proves everything."

"Understanding politics requires recognizing the possibility of conflict as fundamental."