功利主义和罗尔斯主义本身都是很极端的思想。

功利主义是以边沁的学说为基础，正如楼上所说。它认为富人的单位效用和穷人的单位效用是完全等同的。

而罗尔斯主义是从最大最小标准出发，更注重提高穷人的满足程度。

这两种思想都过于极端，一般通常是采取功利主义和罗尔斯主义的折中。

utilitarian stresses on the aggregate level of utility/welfare of the society. therefore when cost and benefit analysis is conducted by adopting utilitarian rule, the process only involves comparing the aggregate utility gain/loss; utilitarian also implies a welfare improvement for any member of society can be seen as improvement for welfare of the whole society ( u might want to check for the notion of weak pareto). an extreme example of this is that if the rich people in the society become richer and poor people's utility level are left unchanged, by utilitarian rule, it is seen as an general improvement to welfare of society. the social indifferece curve of utilitarian result will be a downwards sloping line on a graph.

the raws' result is the opposite extrme of utilitarian. it states that the welfare of soceity should depend upon the poorest/ most disadvantaged member. the social indifference curve on a graph will be a kinked line with 90 degree angle( just like the case of perfect complement goods in comsumer theory)

hope that can answer your question

[此贴子已经被作者于2006-2-24 17:05:35编辑过]