John Rawls
Born: 02-20-1921
John Rawls was a prominent American philosopher, best known for his work in political philosophy. Born in 1921, Rawls is celebrated for his seminal book "A Theory of Justice," which introduced the concept of "justice as fairness." His ideas have profoundly influenced modern political thought, emphasizing equality and social justice. Rawls's academic career was primarily at Harvard University, where he shaped generations of students until his passing in 2002.
Book summaries for books written by John Rawls
Quotes
Each person possesses an inviolability founded on justice that even the welfare of society as a whole cannot override.
Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought.
The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance.
Justice is the result of a fair agreement or bargain.
The natural distribution is neither just nor unjust; nor is it unjust that persons are born into society at some particular position.
Each person's claim to a fully adequate scheme of equal basic rights and liberties is a perfectly equal claim.
The basic structure is the primary subject of justice because its effects are so profound and present from the start.
The fair value of the political liberties is to be guaranteed as part of the equal basic liberties.
Injustice is simply more profitable for the agents involved.
The principles of justice are the object of an agreement, and they are needed for the stability of a well-ordered society.
The distribution of income and wealth is to be to everyone's advantage, especially the least advantaged.
The worst features of the natural distribution are those that are unjust.