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.

The difference principle states that social and economic inequalities are acceptable only if they work to the advantage of the least well-off members of society. It is designed to ensure that any benefit arising from inequality contributes to uplifting those in the most disadvantaged positions, promoting fairness by safeguarding the interests of everyone in society.