In his critique of, and alternative to utilitarianism, John Rawls derives inspiration from which of the following ?

Correct option is A

John Rawls, in his seminal work "A Theory of Justice" (1971), presents a critique of utilitarianism and offers an alternative contractarian approach to justice, inspired by Immanuel Kant’s moral philosophy.
Rawls rejects utilitarianism because it allows for individual rights to be sacrificed for the greater good. Instead, he develops justice as fairness, which is grounded in two principles:
The Equal Liberty Principle – Every individual has an equal right to the most extensive system of basic liberties.
The Difference Principle – Social and economic inequalities are justified only if they benefit the least advantaged members of society.

Rawls' inspiration from Kant is evident in:
His use of the "original position" and "veil of ignorance", which resemble Kant’s categorical imperative—both emphasize decision-making based on moral principles that apply universally.
His belief in autonomy, dignity, and respect for persons as ends in themselves, rejecting the idea of treating people merely as means to an end (a key critique of utilitarianism).
Thus, the correct answer is (a) Immanuel Kant’s moral idea of the freedom and equality of every human being because Rawls' theory aligns closely with Kantian ethics, emphasizing moral autonomy and fairness.

Information Booster
Option (b) - Robert Nozick’s argument on liberty as the paramount consideration of human beings. 
Nozick’s libertarian philosophy (in Anarchy, State, and Utopia, 1974) defends minimal state intervention and free-market capitalism, directly opposing Rawls’ principles of distributive justice.
Nozick rejects Rawls’ Difference Principle, arguing that redistribution violates individual liberty.

Option (c) - T.H. Green’s idea of negative equality. 
T.H. Green advocated positive liberty, which emphasizes the role of the state in removing social barriers to individual self-development.
Rawls’ concept of justice as fairness is broader and does not solely focus on negative equality (equality of opportunity without intervention).

Option (d) - Montesquieu. 
Montesquieu was a political theorist best known for his theory of separation of powers, which influenced modern constitutional democracy.
His ideas were not central to Rawls' critique of utilitarianism or his theory of justice