Political Philosophy

A Theory of Justice

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John Rawls

1971

The most influential work of political philosophy of the twentieth century, A Theory of Justice revived the social contract tradition by introducing the original position and veil of ignorance as a device for deriving principles of justice. Rawls argues that rational agents who did not know their place in society would choose two principles: equal basic liberties for all, and inequalities only insofar as they benefit the least advantaged members.