A black-and-white portrait of a man with glasses and a composed expression, wearing a suit jacket, white shirt, and dark tie. His formal attire and thoughtful demeanor suggest he is a distinguished academic or intellectual, likely from the late 20th century.
A black-and-white portrait of a man with glasses and a composed expression, wearing a suit jacket, white shirt, and dark tie. His formal attire and thoughtful demeanor suggest he is a distinguished academic or intellectual, likely from the late 20th century.

John Rawls

Historical

Historical

Feb 21, 1921

-

Nov 24, 2002

A black-and-white portrait of a man with glasses and a composed expression, wearing a suit jacket, white shirt, and dark tie. His formal attire and thoughtful demeanor suggest he is a distinguished academic or intellectual, likely from the late 20th century.

John Rawls

Historical

Historical

Feb 21, 1921

-

Nov 24, 2002

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

John Rawls was an American political philosopher who redefined the concept of justice and fairness in modern political theory. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Rawls was a reserved and somewhat reflective man who would later emerge as one of the twentieth century's greatest philosophers. He is most famous for his book A Theory of Justice, published in 1971, in which he made the original position and the veil of ignorance that transformed the theory of justice.

Rawls' education, which started at Princeton University and culminated in an undergraduate degree, was influenced by the Second World War. After graduating, he was an infantryman in the Pacific, leading him to doubt religious beliefs and become more preoccupied with justice. Following the war, Rawls went into teaching, and after a few years, he joined Harvard University, where he taught for more than thirty years.

His method of doing philosophy was based on fairness as the key to justice. Rawls dismissed the practical approach that aimed at the greatest happiness for the most significant number of people and claimed that justice should be seen as fair to provide everyone equal rights and opportunities. His work focused on the need to build a society founded on the principles of liberty for all citizens, irrespective of their status.

Rawls continuously developed his theories throughout his career. He published Political Liberalism in 1993 and The Law of Peoples in 1999. He claimed that the societies of liberal democracies can be both stable and united if they adhere to principles of justice that would be acceptable for all citizens regardless of their outlooks on the world. Rawls passed on in 2002, but his ideas remained central to discussions on democracy, human rights, and global justice, hence, he was a monumental figure in political philosophy.

Quotes

"Justice is the first virtue of social institutions as truth is of systems of thought."

"Justice is decided behind the veil of ignorance."

"Each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties that is compatible with an equal system of liberty for all others."

"The most reasonable rules are those, to which people would agree if they were all starting from the same starting position."

"A just society is a society that if you knew everything about it, you'd be willing to enter it in a random place."

"It is not a society of angels, but of reasonable citizens that is well ordered."

"Persons should be respected as the ultimate values and not as the mere instruments to achieve our goals and objectives."

"Justice as fairness offers the basis for determining who has what rights and obligations in the structure of society."

"It is a principle that is widely accepted that laws and institutions have to be changed where they are unfair."

"Inequalities are only acceptable if they promote the worst off in the society."

"Justice concerns the basic structure of society."

"Fairness means that inequalities must be arranged in such a way that they are made to work for the least advantaged."

"Citizens are free in that they possess the two moral powers: a capacity for a sense of justice and a capacity for a conception of the good."

"The original position can be used as a way of analyzing justice from a neutral perspective, that is without the interference of self-interest."

"In a just society the liberties of equal citizenship are presupposed."

FAQ

What is John Rawls's theory of justice?

Rawls's theory of justice provides a fair perspective of a society where rights and opportunities are distributed relatively to all individuals except the least fortunate.

What does "veil of ignorance" mean?

The veil of ignorance is a hypothetical scenario in which people set up the rules of a society without knowing which class they belong to. This helps them make unbiased decisions.

What does the "original position" mean?

The original position is a theoretical model in which persons choose the principles of justice that will apply in society, ignorant of their status.

What is Rawls's difference principle?

The difference principle, part of Rawls' second principle of justice, states that any inequality allowed and encouraged in society should benefit the least fortunate.

What is Rawls's criticism of utilitarianism?

Rawls criticized utilitarianism, stating that it focuses on the greatest good for the most significant number of people and ignores the rights of people, particularly the weak.

What is the subject matter of A Theory of Justice?

Rawls's work made justice and fairness a central concept in political theory and contributed to the debates on rights, democracy, and international justice.

What impact did Rawls make in modern political theory?

Rawls's work made justice and fairness a central concept in political theory and contributed to the debates on rights, democracy, and international justice.

What is Rawls' definition of political liberalism?

Political liberalism is the view that a stable society should be organized on principles of justice that are acceptable to all citizens, regardless of their diversity.

What does the second part of Rawls's political project, the law of peoples, mean?

The law of peoples is Rawls's theory on how nations should relate and the principles that should guide their relationship for the attainment of world order.

What was Rawls' perspective on religion in public affairs?

Rawls argued that everyone can have religious faith, but political decisions in a democracy should be based on acceptable reasons for all citizens.

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

John Rawls was an American political philosopher who redefined the concept of justice and fairness in modern political theory. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Rawls was a reserved and somewhat reflective man who would later emerge as one of the twentieth century's greatest philosophers. He is most famous for his book A Theory of Justice, published in 1971, in which he made the original position and the veil of ignorance that transformed the theory of justice.

Rawls' education, which started at Princeton University and culminated in an undergraduate degree, was influenced by the Second World War. After graduating, he was an infantryman in the Pacific, leading him to doubt religious beliefs and become more preoccupied with justice. Following the war, Rawls went into teaching, and after a few years, he joined Harvard University, where he taught for more than thirty years.

His method of doing philosophy was based on fairness as the key to justice. Rawls dismissed the practical approach that aimed at the greatest happiness for the most significant number of people and claimed that justice should be seen as fair to provide everyone equal rights and opportunities. His work focused on the need to build a society founded on the principles of liberty for all citizens, irrespective of their status.

Rawls continuously developed his theories throughout his career. He published Political Liberalism in 1993 and The Law of Peoples in 1999. He claimed that the societies of liberal democracies can be both stable and united if they adhere to principles of justice that would be acceptable for all citizens regardless of their outlooks on the world. Rawls passed on in 2002, but his ideas remained central to discussions on democracy, human rights, and global justice, hence, he was a monumental figure in political philosophy.

Quotes

"Justice is the first virtue of social institutions as truth is of systems of thought."

"Justice is decided behind the veil of ignorance."

"Each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties that is compatible with an equal system of liberty for all others."

"The most reasonable rules are those, to which people would agree if they were all starting from the same starting position."

"A just society is a society that if you knew everything about it, you'd be willing to enter it in a random place."

"It is not a society of angels, but of reasonable citizens that is well ordered."

"Persons should be respected as the ultimate values and not as the mere instruments to achieve our goals and objectives."

"Justice as fairness offers the basis for determining who has what rights and obligations in the structure of society."

"It is a principle that is widely accepted that laws and institutions have to be changed where they are unfair."

"Inequalities are only acceptable if they promote the worst off in the society."

"Justice concerns the basic structure of society."

"Fairness means that inequalities must be arranged in such a way that they are made to work for the least advantaged."

"Citizens are free in that they possess the two moral powers: a capacity for a sense of justice and a capacity for a conception of the good."

"The original position can be used as a way of analyzing justice from a neutral perspective, that is without the interference of self-interest."

"In a just society the liberties of equal citizenship are presupposed."

FAQ

What is John Rawls's theory of justice?

Rawls's theory of justice provides a fair perspective of a society where rights and opportunities are distributed relatively to all individuals except the least fortunate.

What does "veil of ignorance" mean?

The veil of ignorance is a hypothetical scenario in which people set up the rules of a society without knowing which class they belong to. This helps them make unbiased decisions.

What does the "original position" mean?

The original position is a theoretical model in which persons choose the principles of justice that will apply in society, ignorant of their status.

What is Rawls's difference principle?

The difference principle, part of Rawls' second principle of justice, states that any inequality allowed and encouraged in society should benefit the least fortunate.

What is Rawls's criticism of utilitarianism?

Rawls criticized utilitarianism, stating that it focuses on the greatest good for the most significant number of people and ignores the rights of people, particularly the weak.

What is the subject matter of A Theory of Justice?

Rawls's work made justice and fairness a central concept in political theory and contributed to the debates on rights, democracy, and international justice.

What impact did Rawls make in modern political theory?

Rawls's work made justice and fairness a central concept in political theory and contributed to the debates on rights, democracy, and international justice.

What is Rawls' definition of political liberalism?

Political liberalism is the view that a stable society should be organized on principles of justice that are acceptable to all citizens, regardless of their diversity.

What does the second part of Rawls's political project, the law of peoples, mean?

The law of peoples is Rawls's theory on how nations should relate and the principles that should guide their relationship for the attainment of world order.

What was Rawls' perspective on religion in public affairs?

Rawls argued that everyone can have religious faith, but political decisions in a democracy should be based on acceptable reasons for all citizens.

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

John Rawls was an American political philosopher who redefined the concept of justice and fairness in modern political theory. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Rawls was a reserved and somewhat reflective man who would later emerge as one of the twentieth century's greatest philosophers. He is most famous for his book A Theory of Justice, published in 1971, in which he made the original position and the veil of ignorance that transformed the theory of justice.

Rawls' education, which started at Princeton University and culminated in an undergraduate degree, was influenced by the Second World War. After graduating, he was an infantryman in the Pacific, leading him to doubt religious beliefs and become more preoccupied with justice. Following the war, Rawls went into teaching, and after a few years, he joined Harvard University, where he taught for more than thirty years.

His method of doing philosophy was based on fairness as the key to justice. Rawls dismissed the practical approach that aimed at the greatest happiness for the most significant number of people and claimed that justice should be seen as fair to provide everyone equal rights and opportunities. His work focused on the need to build a society founded on the principles of liberty for all citizens, irrespective of their status.

Rawls continuously developed his theories throughout his career. He published Political Liberalism in 1993 and The Law of Peoples in 1999. He claimed that the societies of liberal democracies can be both stable and united if they adhere to principles of justice that would be acceptable for all citizens regardless of their outlooks on the world. Rawls passed on in 2002, but his ideas remained central to discussions on democracy, human rights, and global justice, hence, he was a monumental figure in political philosophy.

Quotes

"Justice is the first virtue of social institutions as truth is of systems of thought."

"Justice is decided behind the veil of ignorance."

"Each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties that is compatible with an equal system of liberty for all others."

"The most reasonable rules are those, to which people would agree if they were all starting from the same starting position."

"A just society is a society that if you knew everything about it, you'd be willing to enter it in a random place."

"It is not a society of angels, but of reasonable citizens that is well ordered."

"Persons should be respected as the ultimate values and not as the mere instruments to achieve our goals and objectives."

"Justice as fairness offers the basis for determining who has what rights and obligations in the structure of society."

"It is a principle that is widely accepted that laws and institutions have to be changed where they are unfair."

"Inequalities are only acceptable if they promote the worst off in the society."

"Justice concerns the basic structure of society."

"Fairness means that inequalities must be arranged in such a way that they are made to work for the least advantaged."

"Citizens are free in that they possess the two moral powers: a capacity for a sense of justice and a capacity for a conception of the good."

"The original position can be used as a way of analyzing justice from a neutral perspective, that is without the interference of self-interest."

"In a just society the liberties of equal citizenship are presupposed."

FAQ

What is John Rawls's theory of justice?

Rawls's theory of justice provides a fair perspective of a society where rights and opportunities are distributed relatively to all individuals except the least fortunate.

What does "veil of ignorance" mean?

The veil of ignorance is a hypothetical scenario in which people set up the rules of a society without knowing which class they belong to. This helps them make unbiased decisions.

What does the "original position" mean?

The original position is a theoretical model in which persons choose the principles of justice that will apply in society, ignorant of their status.

What is Rawls's difference principle?

The difference principle, part of Rawls' second principle of justice, states that any inequality allowed and encouraged in society should benefit the least fortunate.

What is Rawls's criticism of utilitarianism?

Rawls criticized utilitarianism, stating that it focuses on the greatest good for the most significant number of people and ignores the rights of people, particularly the weak.

What is the subject matter of A Theory of Justice?

Rawls's work made justice and fairness a central concept in political theory and contributed to the debates on rights, democracy, and international justice.

What impact did Rawls make in modern political theory?

Rawls's work made justice and fairness a central concept in political theory and contributed to the debates on rights, democracy, and international justice.

What is Rawls' definition of political liberalism?

Political liberalism is the view that a stable society should be organized on principles of justice that are acceptable to all citizens, regardless of their diversity.

What does the second part of Rawls's political project, the law of peoples, mean?

The law of peoples is Rawls's theory on how nations should relate and the principles that should guide their relationship for the attainment of world order.

What was Rawls' perspective on religion in public affairs?

Rawls argued that everyone can have religious faith, but political decisions in a democracy should be based on acceptable reasons for all citizens.

Life and achievements

Early life

John Rawls was born into a well-off family in Baltimore, Maryland. His father was a lawyer, and his mother was affiliated with the League of Women Voters. Rawls was very close to his two younger brothers, who both died in childhood, and this significantly shaped his view of life. He went to Princeton University, and at first, he studied theology to become a minister. Still, he became a non-believer after serving in World War II in the Pacific front line.

After the war, Rawls attended Princeton University, where he received his Ph.D. in moral philosophy. He then joined Cornell University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and finally, Harvard University, where he stayed for over thirty years. Rawls was born on February 21, 1921, in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, and he had personal and academic experiences that shaped his philosophy in justice, fairness, and the structure of liberal democracies. His thought process was formed due to his desire to fight for fairness and justice for all people so that every citizen of the country could have a decent life.

Legacy

John Rawls is one of the twentieth-century's most influential philosophers, and his work has informed political theory, legal scholarship, and public policy. His work, particularly A Theory of Justice, advanced a new perspective on fairness and justice in liberal democracies. Thus, with the help of the "veil of ignorance" and the "original position", Rawls proposed creating an institution that would benefit all the members of society, particularly the worst-off ones.

Rawls's impact on political liberalism is enormous as his theories define current discussions on the state, human rights, and justice. His idea of meritocracy, which states that inequalities are only acceptable if they are for improving the worst off, was revolutionary and shifted people's views on social justice. Later, in Political Liberalism and The Law of Peoples, Rawls extended his ideas to political legitimacy and international justice questions.

He also contributed to legal and constitutional theory and practice in the areas of human rights, constitutional law, and the state's obligations and responsibilities towards promoting equality. In the current political and philosophical discourses, Rawls's ideas are still highly relevant, thus vindicating his status as one of the most influential intellectual personalities of the twentieth century.

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Your donation today shapes the future of how families and friends connect.
You will become a featured Ambassador.
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Your donation today shapes the future of how families and friends connect.
You will become a featured Ambassador.
Learn more ->

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Milestone moments

May 16, 1971

The release of the book titled A Theory of Justice
John Rawls came up with A Theory of Justice, one of the most widely admired works in political philosophy.
In this work, Rawls described justice as fairness and proposed notions such as the original position and the veil of ignorance.
The book criticized utilitarianism and proposed theories that would protect the rights and freedom of individuals, with emphasis on those who were worst off.
Rawls's A Theory of Justice is an unprecedented work of modern philosophy that has been a starting point for any subsequent debate on democracy, fairness, and justice.

Feb 13, 1993

Publication of Political Liberalism
In Political Liberalism, Rawls developed his theories on justice further to address the issue of political acceptability in a diverse society.
He said that in a democratic society with different perceptions of the world, stability can be achieved only with the help of principles of justice that are acceptable to all citizens regardless of their opinions.
This work stressed the idea of public reason and how laws should be justified so that any rational citizen would accept them.
Rawls's ideas in this book influenced political theorists' thinking about the problems of democracy and tolerance in multicultural societies.

Apr 22, 1999

Publication of The Law of Peoples
John Rawls continued his work on justice by publishing The Law of Peoples.
He advocated for some key norms that should guide the conduct of states, including the rights of individuals, cooperation, and the sovereignty of states in protecting the vulnerable.
This work aimed to raise questions concerning justice in the world and the circumstances that can ensure the world's order.
Rawls's work has remained relevant in international political theory's ongoing debates about the world order and human rights.

Jan 16, 1980

Acknowledgements of Rawls's Impact on Legal and Political Theory
By the 1980s, John Rawls had emerged as one of the widely cited political philosophers in legal and political theory.
His ideas of justice are reasonably incorporated into constitutional and legal arguments, human rights, and the welfare state.
His work impacted many theorists and jurists who wanted to adopt his theory in the practice of political and social administration.
It thus helped establish Rawls as one of the most prominent philosophers in the academic world and political theorists in practice.

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