John Rawls's A Theory of Justice | Core Concepts: Justice as Fairness & the Original Position

John Rawls’ A Theory of Justice revolutionized modern political philosophy by offering “justice as fairness”—a two-principle framework derived from a hypothetical “original position” behind a “veil of ignorance.” Rawls sought to reconcile liberty and equality by showing how free, rational agents would design a just society if they didn’t know their own social standing. His method of reflective equilibrium and his emphasis on fair equality of opportunity and the difference principle have shaped debates on welfare, public policy, and global justice.

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Contents:
1. Introduction: Rawls in Context
John Rawls published A Theory of Justice in 1971, amid debates over welfare, civil rights, and Cold War liberalism. He aimed to revive social contract theory for a pluralistic society, offering a moral foundation for democratic institutions.
2. Justice as Fairness
Rawls defines justice as the outcome of fair terms of cooperation among free persons. “Fairness” means that social primary goods—rights, liberties, income—are distributed according to principles chosen under impartial conditions.
3. The Original Position & Veil of Ignorance
To derive fair principles, Rawls asks us to imagine rational agents in an “original position,” unaware of their class, talents, or values (the “veil of ignorance”). This thought experiment ensures unbiased choice, privileging neither the rich nor the poor.
4. The Two Principles of Justice
1. Equal Basic Liberties: Each person has an equal right to a fully adequate scheme of basic liberties (speech, conscience, political participation).
2. Fair Equality of Opportunity & Difference Principle: Social and economic inequalities are justified only if (a) they benefit the least advantaged (difference principle), and (b) offices and positions are open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity (A Theory of Justice).
5. Reflective Equilibrium, Critiques & Modern Relevance
Rawls’s methodology—seeking coherence between our considered judgments and theoretical principles (reflective equilibrium)—has influenced ethics and economics. While praised for its rigor, critics challenge its feasibility, cultural bias, and treatment of global justice. Yet its core message—that just institutions depend on the fair design of social rules—continues to inform policy debates on redistribution, healthcare, and international cooperation.

0:00 Introduction Rawls in Context
1:07 Justice as Fairness
3:03 The Original Position & Veil of Ignorance
4:37 The Two Principles of Justice
6:56 Reflective Equilibrium, Critiques & Modern Relevance

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