John Rawls’s A Theory of Justice

Rawls argues for “justice as fairness” through a thought experiment called the original position, where rational individuals choose principles for society behind a veil of ignorance. This ensures decisions are free from personal biases about social status, natural talents, or personal values. From this setup, Rawls derives two key principles: the equal basic liberties for all and the difference principle, which permits social and economic inequalities only if they benefit the least advantaged.