The decisions of hypothetical contractors play an important role in contractarianism. Suppose that such contractors failed to agree about some moral question. How serious of a problem would this be for contractarianism? Describe Rawls's idea of the veil of ignorance, and explain how it might be able to solve this problem. Do you think it succeeds? Why or why not?

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The Answer is The failure of hypothetical contractors to agree on a moral question would indeed pose a serious problem for contractarianism. Contractarianism relies on the idea that individuals would come to a consensus on moral principles through rational deliberation and agreement. If this consensus cannot be reached, it calls into question the foundation of contractarianism and its ability to provide a solid basis for moral principles.

John Rawls's idea of the veil of ignorance is a thought experiment that aims to address this problem. The veil of ignorance requires individuals to make decisions about principles of justice without knowing their own place in society, their social status, or their natural abilities. This is meant to ensure that individuals make decisions impartially and without bias, as they are unaware of how the principles they choose will affect them personally.

The veil of ignorance can potentially solve the problem of disagreement among hypothetical contractors by creating a framework for decision-making that is fair and impartial. By removing personal biases and self-interest from the decision-making process, individuals can arrive at principles of justice that are more universally acceptable.

However, whether the veil of ignorance succeeds in solving the problem ultimately depends on one's perspective. Some may argue that it successfully addresses the issue of disagreement among contractors by providing a fair and impartial decision-making process. Others may argue that it is still limited by the subjective nature of individuals' reasoning and may not guarantee a truly objective and universally acceptable set of moral principles.

In conclusion, while Rawls's veil of ignorance offers a potential solution to the problem of disagreement among hypothetical contractors in contractarianism, its success is ultimately a matter of debate and interpretation. It provides a framework for fair and impartial decision-making, but whether it fully resolves the problem is open to interpretation.

The Decisions of Hypothetical Contractors Play an Important Role in Contractarianism