Summary: The Veil Of Ignorance

Chapter 12 addressed non-consequentialism as opposed to consequentialism. The Natural Law Theory was expanded on, as were the human, eternal, and divine law theories. Basic human goods were also discussed; it was determined that life, friendship, family, religion, knowledge, and the experience of beauty are all basic human goods. Acting out of good will was said to be necessary for moral actions. Furthermore, the Fundamental Law of Morality was introduced, as were categorical imperatives. The Veil of Ignorance was also discussed; a concept which means that the people under the Veil do not know their place in society, societal status, and many other particular facts. Also addressed in this chapter were prima facie duties, ideal and act utilitarianism,

Moreover, an emphasis was placed on consumption and the rate at which people consume natural and other resources. It was argued that the consumption rate is too high, and that people should live sustainably with less resources and material goods in order to live a better life. Whether or not to preserve the environment was examined with the future population considered. The Malthusian Theory was explained and as was the significance of zero-sum goods. As seen in other chapters, justice, fundamental equality, and nonhuman rights were important topics in this chapter. Living more consciously was another key point that was stressed in arguing for the preservation of the environment.
Throughout each chapter, the underlying themes of justice, utilitarianism, and equality were discussed. A feminist perspective was adopted in several of the chapters, as was the Kantian perspective. Nonhuman and human rights were debated, and the value of each life, regardless of the species, was discussed. The future population and whether or not people have a moral duty to the future population was also considered. Justice was touched on in almost every chapter, as was