A Macat Analysis of John Rawls's A Theory of Justice

Issues of human rights and freedoms always inflame passions, and John Rawls’s A Theory of Justice will do the same. Published in 1971, it links the idea of social justice to a basic sense of fairness that recognizes human rights and freedoms. Controversially, though, it also accepts differences in the distribution of goods and services—as long as they benefit the worst-off in society. To justify his theory Rawls asks readers to indulge in a thought experiment, the “original position.” Here, members of an imaginary society create their idea of justice behind a “veil of ignorance”—not knowing where they would be placed in terms of class, wealth, intelligence, and so on. The result, Rawls argues, would be a society with rules that offer basic liberties to all citizens and that does ensure the greatest benefit for the less well off. A Theory of Justice has caused huge debate, prompting both criticism and support. It remains one of the most influential publications in the fields of political theory and political philosophy.