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JOHN RAWL’S
THEORY
of
JUSTICE and
“JUSTICE AS FAIRNESS”
Subject : ETHICS By : GROUP III
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John Rawls (1921–2002)

was an American philosopher and one of the
most influential political philosophers of the 20th
century. He is best known for his work in moral and
political philosophy, particularly his book "A Theory
of Justice," published in 1971. In this work, Rawls
developed the concept of "justice as fairness,"
which aimed to reconcile the tension between
liberty and equality in society

jOHN RAWL’S THEORY

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John Rawls and his Theory of Justice

or "Justice As Fairness?

Rawl’s Theory of justice begins introducing the fundamental principle that

EVERY INDIVIDUAL IS INVIOLABLE.
This explains why clear social inequalities are unjust and what a just society
really is. Rawls believes that a just society is one whose characteristics
conform to normative rules that everyone would agree. This explains why
Rawls theory of justice begins by introducing the fundamental principle
that every individual is inviolable.

jOHN RAWL’S THEORY

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"Each person possesses an inviolability

founded on justice that even the welfare of
the state cannot override. Therefore, the
rights secured by justice are not subject to
political bargaining or to the calculus of
social interest."
John Rawls (1921–2002)

jOHN RAWL’S THEORY

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Implications from the
Principle
life and rights should not be
sacrificed for the sake of the
majority. For example,
suppressing the people's right
to speech and expression for
the sake of economic growth
is morally wrong for Rawls.
| justice and Justice as Fairness | PHI109A- ETHICS
an unjust law is better than no
restrictions through law
law at all. In other words, an act
preserves freedom in
of injustice is tolerable if and
democracy. For example, it is
only if it is necessary to avoid
probably morally right to restrict
greater act of injustice. For
people from owning more than 5
example, it might be morally
hectares of agricultural lot so
right to Incapacitate, if not kill, a
that other people will have the
notorious serial killer if it is the
chance to own a lot
only way to stop him from killing
more innocent people.
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THE EQUAL LIBERTY PRINCIPLE

The first principle puts emphasis on

equal access to the basic human needs,
rights, and liberties, Rawls calls this the
equal liberty principle. This principle
guarantees the right of each person to
have the extensive basic liberty
compatible with the liberty of others.

THE DIFFERENCE PRINCIPLE

The second principle emphasizes the idea
of fair equality of opportunity and the
equal distribution of socio-economic
inequalities. Rawls calls this the
THE EQUAL LIBERTY difference principle This principle implies
PRINCIPLE AND THE that social and economic positions are to
be
DIFFERENCE PRINCIPLE a) everyone’s advantage
b) open to all.
 HOW CAN WE
ACTUALIZE RAWLS’
THEORY OF JUSTICE?
ORIGINAL POSITION
Is a hypothetical scenario where individuals come
Rawls emphasize the need together to establish principles of justice for their
for a state that is neutral society. They do this behind a "veil of ignorance,"
between the various meaning they don't know their own characteristics,
perspective of values. such as wealth, social status, or talents. This ensures
fairness in designing principles that everyone would
Rawls emphasize the need for a state that is neutral between the agree to, regardless of their personal circumstances.
He call his conception
various perspective of values. He call his conception “justice as
“justice as fairness”. This
fairness”. This creates the notion of “Vails of Ignorance” and
“Original Position” means deprived of information about the VEIL OF IGNORANCE
creates the notion of “Veils
particular person or persons they represent?
This is a theoretical device or hypothetical
of Ignorance” and separation between the decision-maker and the
society he lives in.
“Original Position” means It prevents him from knowing any material facts
deprived of information about himself or the people for whom he is
making the rule.
about the particular person The individual in the original position sets aside
or persons they represent. her biases towards and preconceptions about
anything.
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SCENARIO:
Imagine that you have just been selected to be a part of a group of individuals who are given the task of determining
which laws, rules, or policies your community is going to keep and which ones to do away with.

The head of this select council strongly believes in John Rawl’s Theory of Justice as Fairness, meaning that while he
believes that in the inviolability of human life, the restriction of individual liberties for the preservation of democracy,
and how every individual deserves to have equal access to the basic human needs, rights and liberties as well as to the
equal distribution of socio-economic inequalities.

As such, upon meeting all of you in this group, every single member is required to observe member is required to
observe John Rawl’s original position and veil of ignorance: meaning that everything you know about yourself and
others are no longer relevant; you do not care about your own social status, economic status, religion, ethnicity, sex,
gender, and age nor do you care about that of your country’s constituents. You are only to focus on what is best for
your nation, and that alone.

As a rational, impartial, and unbiased member of this council, what existing laws in your current community would you
remove? Which ones would you add? Which ones would you keep? Explain your answer.