Technology and the Basic Structure of Society: Exploring the Four-Stage Sequence for a Rawlsian Philosophy of Technology

Rawlsian ideas about justice are increasingly applied to various disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, the architecture and design of the internet and some of its most prominent applications. From a Rawlsian perspective, some authors argue, for instance, to protect privacy as an important basic good and for the curtailment of private money power over social and other digital media (Douglas, 2015; Risse, 2023). In short, it is increasingly suggested that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence must be conceived of as part of the basic structure of society – which is according to Rawls’ the primary location of justice (Gabriel, 2022). Our contribution aims at fleshing out this idea that is currently underexplored: Rawlsian philosophy of technology either adapts public reason as the guiding idea (Risse, 2023) or apply his principles of justice aligned with the original position. Rawls’s own work suggests another way: When confronted with constitutional and legislative issues, the veil of ignorance of the original position has to be lifted in the four-stage sequence (FSS)(Rawls 1999. p. 171 f.). To makes sense of the Rawlsian framework and work with the principles of justice that have been established in ignorance of one’s own position but also of many features of the society – including its level of technological development – under the veil of ignorance, step by step more features have to be revealed to the agent. In order to prevent an overhasty, misapplication of Rawls to particular disruptive technologies, we intend to a) criticize current research that applies Rawls principles directly rather than sequentially, b) outline Rawls four step procedure and its advantages.

Co-author: Martin Sand.