Rawlsianism

Rawlsianism refers to the political philosophy of John Rawls, most notably articulated in his 1971 book "A Theory of Justice." At its core, Rawlsianism proposes a framework for a just society based on principles of fairness and equality. Rawls sought to establish criteria for a just distribution of social primary goods, which include rights, liberties, opportunities, wealth, and income.

Central to Rawlsianism is the concept of the "original position," a hypothetical state of equality where individuals choose the principles of justice without knowing their own social status, talents, or conception of the good. This thought experiment is designed to ensure impartiality. From the original position, Rawls argues that two principles of justice would be chosen. The first principle, the equal liberty principle, states that each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive scheme of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar scheme of liberties for others. The second principle addresses the distribution of economic and social inequalities.

The second principle is divided into two parts. The difference principle states that social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged. The fair equality of opportunity principle requires that offices and positions be open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity. Rawlsianism emphasizes that the liberties in the first principle take lexical priority over the inequalities allowed by the second principle. This philosophy has been influential in contemporary political thought, particularly in debates about social justice and distributive justice.