John Rawls's theory of justice revolutionized political philosophy. He proposed a fair society based on principles chosen by individuals in an "original position" behind a "veil of ignorance," unaware of their personal circumstances.

Rawls argued that in this position, people would choose two key principles: equal basic liberties for all and a system where inequalities benefit the least advantaged. This approach aimed to create a just society through impartial decision-making.

Rawls's Theory of Justice

Overview of Rawls's influential work

• John Rawls, an American political philosopher, published his seminal work "A Theory of Justice" in 1971
• Rawls's theory of justice as fairness is a philosophical framework for determining the principles of justice that should govern a society
• Rawls argues that justice should be based on the idea of a hypothetical social contract agreed upon by individuals in an original position of equality

Key concepts in Rawls's theory

• Justice as fairness emphasizes the importance of treating individuals equally and ensuring fair distribution of rights, liberties, and social and economic advantages
• Rawls employs the method of reflective equilibrium, which involves testing and refining moral judgments against theoretical principles to achieve coherence between our intuitions and a philosophical theory of justice
• Rawls's theory is a modern interpretation of social contract theory, which holds that the legitimacy of political authority and principles of justice derive from a hypothetical agreement among free and equal individuals

The Original Position

Defining the original position

• The original position is a hypothetical situation in which individuals are tasked with choosing the principles of justice that will govern their society
• In the original position, individuals are placed behind a veil of ignorance, which prevents them from knowing their specific social, economic, or personal characteristics (talents, race, gender, social status)
• The veil of ignorance ensures that individuals choose principles of justice impartially, without being influenced by their particular circumstances or self-interest

Principles and decision-making in the original position

• Rawls argues that in the original position, individuals would prioritize the protection of basic rights and liberties and ensure a fair distribution of primary goods (rights, liberties, opportunities, income, wealth, and the social bases of self-respect)
• Individuals in the original position would employ the maximin principle, which involves choosing the principles that maximize the well-being of the least advantaged members of society
• By applying the maximin principle, Rawls believes that individuals in the original position would choose two principles of justice:
  1. The equal liberty principle: Each person has an equal right to a fully adequate scheme of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar scheme for all
  2. The difference principle: Social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both (a) to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged and (b) attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity