Introduction to Rawls

John Rawls (1921–2002) was a highly influential American political philosopher, best known for his seminal work, A Theory of Justice (1971). In this book, Rawls sought to address fundamental questions about fairness and the organisation of a just society. His aim was to develop a systematic theory of justice that could serve as a foundation for political institutions and social arrangements, balancing the competing claims of liberty and equality.

Rawls proposed a thought experiment known as the "original position," where rational individuals choose principles of justice from behind a "veil of ignorance." This veil ensures that decision-makers are unaware of their own personal characteristics, such as race, class, or gender, forcing them to consider justice from an impartial perspective. This approach aims to create a framework for fairness, as no one would design rules that unfairly disadvantage a particular group without knowing whether they themselves might belong to that group.

So, let's explore what this theory could tell us about our COMPAS case.