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The aim of this article is to show how Rawls, in his zeal to expose the shortcomings of utilitarianism, too quickly classified Adam Smith in this current of thought. By doing so —it is argued in this paper— Rawls eliminated a liberal alternative respectful of autonomy and plurality, which is more liberal yet than his own theory. It is pointed out that Smith proposes a social construction based on effective communication between individuals who remain autonomous. According to Jimena Hurtado, that interaction produces particular rules on behavior and justice for each social organization and in this regard, Smith’s theory, contrary to that of Rawls, does not presuppose any result or any particular institutional arrangement.