The similarities, and differences, between the philosophies of John Rawls Theory of Justice, Adam Smith Theory for Moral Sent - Term Paper Example

In the end what we have in Gates creative capitalism is an extrapolation of earlier theories, customized and set to the more practical tune of direct intervention and redistribution. Rawls and Gates’ in the Looking Glass Bill Gates and creative capitalism in relationship to Rawls’ Theory of Justice provides the basis for comparison between pure social theory and practical application. Not that the two always coincide, and certainly not that either necessarily agrees with the other implicitly.

Yet both Shaw and Barry put forth the proposition that Rawls’ ideas [like those of Gates] ‘touch a responsive chord” (Shaw and Barry:128). Rawls’ concept of society “as a cooperative venture” (Shaw and Barry 129) resonate throughout Gates 2008 remarks before the World Economic Forum. As social contract theory, both Gates and Rawls call for a rethinking and extension of original social contracts proposed by earlier philosophers. But perhaps the most significant connection tying the two emanates from Rawls’ theory “that social and economic inequalities are justified only if those inequalities benefit the least advantaged members of society” (Shaw and Barry 129). . (Gates, Economic Forum: 1) Guth goes further in his criticism, referring to Gates’ proposals for creative capitalism as a “revision of capitalism” (Guth par 1), a concept never popular with purists.

It can also be said that in rethinking the terms of capitalism vis a vis the world’s poor, Gates returns to Rawls’ concept of original position. Beyond mere philanthropy--a term often used to describe Gates work--he is offering the wealthiest an opportunity, as Rawls’ theory suggests, to gather, think and discuss the meaning of true social justice [in economic terms] (Shaw and Barry 133). Rawls rather naive conclusion, however, that those discussing original position must not be conscious of social status runs counter to Gates’ full acknowledgement of social level and his direct appeal to the wealthiest.

Stating the two great forces of human nature as” self interest and caring for others” (Gates, World Economic Forum: 3), Gates agrees with Rawls at least regarding self interest as a driver, taking the theory of what makes capitalism tick a step further in proposing that “The genius of capitalism lies in its ability to make self interest serve the wider interest” (Gates, World Economic Forum: 3). Regarding the thrust of both Rawls’ theory and creative capitalism, it is difficult and wrong to declare that one or the other is based on pure reason or pure sympathy.

Yet in analyzing Rawls and Gates one might tend more toward judgments of reason over sympathy as the catalyst for their proposals. Gates, however, at times tends toward the latter in his declaration that the poor of the world have not enough resources to sustain them.(Gates, World