John Rawls
An American philosopher whose 'A Theory of Justice' proposed a thought experiment of the 'original position' and 'veil of ignorance' to derive principles of a just society.
Quotes by John Rawls
Political liberalism is not a comprehensive doctrine.
The problem of political liberalism is to work out a conception of political justice for a constitutional democratic regime.
An overlapping consensus is a consensus in which citizens who hold different comprehensive doctrines nevertheless agree on a political conception of justice.
The idea of public reason applies to the political forum, not to the whole of life.
The aim of political philosophy, as I conceive it, is to articulate and to defend a conception of justice that is appropriate for a modern democratic society.
The Law of Peoples is an extension of a liberal conception of justice to the society of peoples.
A realistic utopia is a society that is both just and stable.
The eight principles of the Law of Peoples are: (1) Peoples are free and independent, and their freedom and independence are to be respected by other peoples. (2) Peoples are to observe treaties and undertakings. (3) Peoples are equal and are parties to the agreements that bind them. (4) Peoples are to observe a duty of nonintervention. (5) Peoples have a right of self-defense but no right to instigate war for reasons other than self-defense. (6) Peoples are to honor human rights. (7) Peoples are to observe certain specified restrictions in the conduct of war. (8) Peoples have a duty to assist other peoples living under unfavorable conditions that prevent their having a just or decent political and social regime.
The idea of a reasonable pluralism is central to political liberalism.
The role of political philosophy is to focus on the deep conflicts in society and to see whether a basis for public agreement can be found.
The problem of political justice is to find a conception of justice that can be affirmed by citizens who hold diverse and conflicting comprehensive doctrines.
The original position is a device of representation.
The principles of justice are to be chosen under conditions that are fair.
The idea of reflective equilibrium is a state of affairs where one's considered judgments about justice are in harmony with one's principles of justice.
The primary subject of justice is the basic structure of society, or more exactly, the way in which the major social institutions distribute fundamental rights and duties and determine the division of advantages from social cooperation.
The concept of justice as fairness is a political conception of justice, not a metaphysical one.
The aim of a just society is to secure the conditions for free and equal citizens to cooperate on fair terms.
The idea of public reason is an ideal of citizenship for a constitutional democratic regime.
The Law of Peoples is a particular political conception of right and justice that applies to the principles and norms of international law and practice.
The duty of civility is to be able to explain to one another how the principles and policies they advocate and vote for can be supported by the political values of public reason.