A lesson from John Rawls
#328
My Dear Friend of Democracy,
In his 1971 book "A Theory of Justice," the philosopher John Rawls described society as "an enterprise of cooperation for mutual advantageā.
What a different perspective than that of populists and extremists like Donald Trump and Elon Musk, and the many supporters of the partly right-wing extremist party Alternative for Germany (AfD) in my country, that essentially understand society foremost as a struggle of all against all.
What is crucial, however, is what follows from these different perspectives.
Rawlsians try to give society rules so that everyone can live in such a way that this life also benefits others. Trump and his cohorts, on the other hand, are trying to do the best for a specific group (primarily themselves) at the expense of others.
Such a pursuit inevitably leads to conflict. Potential losers will fight back against the winners, and the winners will do a lot to stay on the winning side permanently.
Therefore, peaceful coexistence will never be possible with Trump and Co. at the helm. Only without him.
See you in Democracy
Johannes Eber