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Justice as Fairness: Rawls and the Veil of Ignorance
Designing a fair society without knowing your place in it
If you had to design society's rules without knowing whether you'd be born rich or poor, what would you choose?
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John Rawls introduced the 'original position' thought experiment: imagine choosing society's basic structure from behind a 'veil of ignorance' — not knowing your gender, race, wealth, or talents. Rawls argued that rational agents in this position would choose two principles: equal basic liberties for all, and inequality allowed only if it benefits the least advantaged.
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Question 1 of 1What is the purpose of Rawls's 'veil of ignorance'?