John Rawls
What’s inside
John Rawls’s ‘A Theory of Justice’ is a seminal work in political philosophy and ethics, in which Rawls presents his theory of justice as fairness. He argues for a principled reconciliation of liberty and equality, to be applied to the basic structure of a well-ordered society. Central to his theory is the idea of the ‘original position,’ a hypothetical state of equality in which individuals make decisions about the rules of society behind a ‘veil of ignorance,’ unaware of their own particular advantages.
You’ll Learn
- Understanding foundational concepts of political philosophy
- Gaining insights into the principles of a just society
- Examining the implications of fairness in societal structures
- Enhancing the discourse on liberty, equality, and ethics
Key Points
- Justice as Fairness
- The Original Position and the Veil of Ignorance
- Two Principles of Justice
- The Difference Principle and Inequality
- Stability for the Right Reasons
- The Role of Civil Disobedience and Conscientious Refusal
- The Priority of Liberty
Who’s it For
- Students of philosophy
- Political scientists
- Ethicists
- Lawmakers
- Social justice advocates
About the author
John Rawls was an influential American political philosopher in the liberal tradition. His work ‘A Theory of Justice’ has been said to be the most significant philosophical work on political philosophy in the 20th century. Rawls has shaped contemporary understandings of justice and ethics profoundly.