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1958 and 1971, twentieth century

John Rawls — Fair terms of cooperation and the basic structure

If I did not know my social position, which rules for liberty, opportunity, and inequality could I accept?

John RawlsA Theory of JusticeJustice as Fairness

Evidence-backed account

Rawls published 'Justice as Fairness' in 1958 and developed a systematic account for the basic structure of a liberal society in A Theory of Justice in 1971.

Open evidence

This is an evidence-linked editorial paraphrase, not a direct quotation.

  • Justice as Fairness

    John Rawls · 1958 · The Philosophical Review 67(2), 164–194; DOI 10.2307/2182612

    Locator: Volume 67(2), 164–194

    Open source

  • A Theory of Justice

    John Rawls · 1971 · Original edition: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA; revised-edition structure via JSTOR

    Locator: Original edition, 1971

    Open source

  • John Rawls

    Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

    Locator: Section 4.1

    Open source

The original position is not a historical contract but a hypothetical procedure modeling a standpoint for choosing fair terms of cooperation among free and equal citizens.

Open evidence

This is an evidence-linked editorial paraphrase, not a direct quotation.

  • A Theory of Justice

    John Rawls · 1971 · Original edition: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA; revised-edition structure via JSTOR

    Locator: Sections 3–4 and 24

    Open source

  • Original Position

    Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

    Locator: Sections 1–3

    Open source

The veil of ignorance limits information so parties cannot exploit their class, talents, convictions, or social position to choose principles biased in their own favor.

Open evidence

This is an evidence-linked editorial paraphrase, not a direct quotation.

  • A Theory of Justice

    John Rawls · 1971 · Original edition: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA; revised-edition structure via JSTOR

    Locator: Section 24

    Open source

  • Original Position

    Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

    Locator: Sections 2–3

    Open source

The first principle requires equal basic liberties compatible for all and gives them priority against simple tradeoffs for social or economic gains.

Open evidence

This is an evidence-linked editorial paraphrase, not a direct quotation.

  • A Theory of Justice

    John Rawls · 1971 · Original edition: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA; revised-edition structure via JSTOR

    Locator: Sections 11 and 32–39

    Open source

  • John Rawls

    Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

    Locator: Section 4.3

    Open source

The second principle distinguishes fair opportunity from inequalities arranged to benefit the least advantaged; it does not require identical outcomes.

Open evidence

This is an evidence-linked editorial paraphrase, not a direct quotation.

  • A Theory of Justice

    John Rawls · 1971 · Original edition: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA; revised-edition structure via JSTOR

    Locator: Sections 12–17 and 46

    Open source

  • John Rawls

    Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

    Locator: Section 4.3

    Open source

Rawls's central subject is the basic structure formed by major institutions such as constitutional, legal, economic, and family arrangements, not one formula for every personal action.

Open evidence

This is an evidence-linked editorial paraphrase, not a direct quotation.

  • John Rawls

    Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

    Locator: Sections 4.1–4.3

    Open source
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