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
The basic liberties are not up for political bargaining.
Reasonable pluralism is a permanent feature of a free society.
Justice as fairness is a theory of our moral sentiments.
The primary subject of justice is the basic structure of society.
Citizens are to be treated as equal persons.
The law of peoples should be a law of mutual respect.
Democratic equality is the only principle that does not impose a dominant comprehensive doctrine.
The veil of ignorance prevents any particular interests from influencing the choice of principles.
In a constitutional democracy, the majority has no right to oppress minorities.
The sense of justice is the capacity to understand, to apply, and to act from the public conception of justice.
Public reason is the reason of the citizens as such.
Inequalities are just if they benefit the least advantaged.
A theory of justice must be a theory of moral psychology.
The stability of a just society requires that its citizens have a sense of justice.
Comprehensive doctrines must be reasonable to coexist in a democratic society.
International justice requires a society of peoples.
Equal basic liberties for all is the first principle of justice.
The burdens of judgment explain why reasonable disagreement persists.
A just constitution secures the basic rights and liberties.
Moral persons are those capable of a sense of justice and the good.