John Rawls

American political philosopher (1921–2002)

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Lived 1921–2002, aged 81United States

United States AcademicsAcademic

Wikipedia
68 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1921–2002
Aged 81
Awards
6
recognised works

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

He asked what society you'd build if you didn't know whether you'd be born rich or poor, powerful or powerless. That thought experiment — the "original position" — anchored the most influential work of political philosophy in half a century.

Biography

About

John Bordley Rawls was born February 21, 1921, and spent his career working in moral, legal, and political philosophy within the modern liberal tradition. When A Theory of Justice appeared in 1971, it resurrected normative political philosophy as a serious discipline; the book argued for "justice as fairness" — equal basic liberties, equality of opportunity, and arranging inequalities to benefit the least advantaged. His method was the "original position," a thought experiment in which people choose principles for society without knowing their future place in it. Political Liberalism followed…

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In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from John Rawls

John Rawls

said1971

This is a long book, not only in pages.

— Preface, pg. viii

John Rawls

said1971

I am particularly grateful to Nozick for his unfailing help and encouragement during the last stages.

— Preface, pg. xii

John Rawls

said1971

Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought.

— Chapter I, Section 1, pg. 3-4

John Rawls

said1971

The concept of justice I take to be defined, then, by the role of its principles in assigning rights and duties and in defining the appropriate division of social advantages.

— Chapter I, Section 2, pg. 10

John Rawls

said1971