John Rawls

When was Rawls alive?

1921-2002

What was his veil of ignorance?

idea that if an individual had to imagine a society but didn’t know their position in that society, they would want to live in an interventionary state that would guarantee equality of opportunity, rather than a limited state that did not

What is a challenge against his veil of ignorance?

Philosophers have argued that it does not take into account the possibility of some people choosing an unequal society in the hopes of gaining more, and accepting the risk they might become worse off

What was his key works?

‘ theory of justice’ (1971)

What did he add to foundational equality?

social + economic equality - argued that a just society must provide equality of opportunity, and this could only be achieve by the state taking a larger role in society (funded by progressive tax)

What was his view on the economy?

The state’s obligation to disadvantaged citizens would temper free-market capitalism - but were necessary