Theorist of Justice
John Rawls
Your quest companion appears in the header, offers one of their ideas on your home page each day, and cheers you on in lessons. You can change companions at any time, and your progress stays the same.
An American philosopher who asked what principles of justice people would choose behind a veil of ignorance, not knowing their place in society.
Key work: A Theory of Justice (1971)
“Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought.”
Key ideas, in brief (in our words)
Choose the rules as if you did not know your place.
Inequalities must benefit the worst off.
Each person has liberties no majority can override.
Read more: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
On the climb
Justice as FairnessThe Veil of Ignorance
Quest with John Rawls above to start the climb and open these lessons.
