Practice modes
Languages & Literature
Pakistan
World & History
1921 – 2002
A Theory of Justice, the veil of ignorance
Rawls asked what principles of justice people would choose for their society if they had to agree on them from behind a hypothetical "veil of ignorance" — not knowing their own race, class, talents or position in that society. He argued rational people in this position would choose basic equal liberties for all, plus economic inequalities only where they also work to benefit society's least advantaged members (the difference principle).
American political philosopher at Harvard whose 1971 book is widely regarded as the most influential work of political philosophy of the 20th century.