John Rawls’ interpretation of categorical imperative in “Theory of Justice”

Abstract

John Rawls’s interpretation of Kant’s categorical imperative is reviewed, some significant aspects of Rawls’ treatment of key notions of rationality, interests and ends are revealed, which limit the possibilities of application of Kantian ethics within Rawls’ liberal egalitarianism.

Keywords

• categorical imperative
• theory of justice as fairness
• rationality
• reasonableness
• universalism
• Immanuel Kant
• John Rawls