John Rawls (1921–2002) was an American moral and political philosopher, who is often described as one of the most important political philosophers of the 20th century. His theory of justice as fairness, which seeks to reconcile liberty and equality, has had a profound influence on both the philosophy and politics of liberalism.
Rawls was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and served in World War II before attending Princeton University, where he completed his PhD in Philosophy.
His seminal work, “A Theory of Justice” (1971), proposes a society in which distributive justice is based on the principles that Rawls argues would be selected in an original position of equality. He envisions individuals in this hypothetical original position behind a ‘veil of ignorance,’ where they do not know their own personal characteristics or societal status. He suggests they would choose two principles of justice to structure society: the principle of equal basic liberties, and the difference principle, which allows inequalities only if they benefit the least advantaged.
Rawls’ later works include “Political Liberalism” (1993), where he further develops his theory in the context of enduring religious and philosophical disagreement among citizens, and “The Law of Peoples” (1999), where he extends his approach to the international level.
His works provided a fresh basis for discussions of the foundations of liberal democratic politics and political legitimacy, and his method of reflective equilibrium has become a standard tool in modern moral philosophy.
Rawls was a professor at Harvard University for several decades, and his teaching and writing have shaped generations of students and scholars. Despite facing severe health issues later in his life, his writings and his theory of justice continue to be central topics in moral and political philosophy debates, marking his significant and enduring contribution to the field.