Who was John Rawls? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: John Bordley Rawls

Died At Age: 81

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Margaret Fox

father: William Lee Rawls

mother: Anna Abell Stump

siblings: Bobby, Tommy

Philosophers American Men

political ideology: Political philosophy,, Liberalism

Died on: November 24, 2002

place of death: Lexington, Massachusetts, United States

City: Baltimore, Maryland

U.S. State: Maryland

More Facts

education: Princeton University

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1

What is John Rawls' theory of justice?

John Rawls' theory of justice is based on the principles of justice as fairness, where he argues that justice should be based on equal rights and opportunities for all individuals, especially those who are disadvantaged.
2

What is the original position in John Rawls' theory?

The original position in John Rawls' theory is a hypothetical scenario where individuals choose principles of justice behind a veil of ignorance, not knowing their own social position, wealth, or abilities. This ensures fairness in the decision-making process.
3

What is the difference principle in John Rawls' theory?

The difference principle in John Rawls' theory states that social and economic inequalities are acceptable only if they benefit the least advantaged members of society. This principle aims to reduce inequality and improve the well-being of the most vulnerable.
4

What is the veil of ignorance in John Rawls' theory?

The veil of ignorance in John Rawls' theory refers to a hypothetical condition where individuals making decisions about justice are unaware of their own characteristics and circumstances. This ensures impartiality and fairness in the formulation of principles of justice.
5

How does John Rawls' theory of justice apply to distributive justice?

John Rawls' theory of justice focuses on distributive justice by advocating for fair distribution of resources and opportunities in society. He argues for policies that prioritize the needs of the least advantaged members of society to create a more just and equitable system.

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Childhood & Early Life

John Rawls was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to William Lee Rawls, an attorney and Anna Abell Stump Rawls. He suffered from an emotional turmoil early on, when two of his brothers died in childhood due to fatal illnesses.

He briefly attended a school in Baltimore after which he enrolled at the Kent School in Connecticut. In 1939, he enrolled at the Princeton University.

In 1943, soon after obtaining a degree in arts, he was commissioned into the United States Army. He served during the World War II but left the army, after witnessing the Hiroshima bombing.

Withdrawing his service from the army, he got enrolled again at the Princeton University in 1946, to secure a PhD in the field of moral philosophy.

In 1950, he published the thesis titled, ‘A Study in the Grounds of Ethical Knowledge: Considered with Reference to Judgments on the Moral Worth of Character’.

Upon obtaining a PhD in 1950, he started teaching at the Princeton University - a position he held onto for two years.

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Career

In 1951, he published 'Outline of a Decision Procedure for Ethics', in the Cornell University journal titled, ‘Philosophical Review'. In the same journal, he also wrote, ‘Justice as Fairness' and 'The Sense of Justice'.

In 1952, he was awarded the Fulbright Fellowship to Oxford University. He returned to the United States of America, where he initially worked as an assistant professor and later became the associate professor at the Cornell University.

By 1962, he became a full time professor at Cornell University and soon received a tenured position from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. However, he opted to teach at the Harvard University.

In 1963, he authored a chapter titled, ‘Constitutional Liberty and the Concept of Justice' for the book, ‘Nomos, VI: Justice', Yearbook of the American Society for Political and Legal Philosophy.

In 1967, he authored the chapter titled, ‘Distributive Justice’ in the Peter Laslett and W. G. Runciman book titled, 'Philosophy, Politics, and Society'. The following year, he wrote the article, ‘Distributive Justice: Some Addenda'.

In 1971, he authored ‘A Theory of Justice’, which was published by the Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. This is regarded as one of his most important works on political philosophy and ethics.

In November 1974, he wrote the article titled, ‘Reply to Alexander and Musgrave' in the 'Quarterly Journal of Economics'. The same year, he also published 'Some Reasons for the Maximin Criterion' in the 'American Economic Review'.

In 1993, he came out with an updated version of ‘A Theory of Justice’ titled'Political Liberalism'. The work was published by the Columbia University Press. The same year, he authored the article titled, ‘The Law of Peoples', which was published in the 'Critical Inquiry'.

In 2001, he published ‘Justice as Fairness: A Restatement', in response to criticism of his book, ‘A Theory of Justice’. The book presented a shorter summary of the philosophies that was edited by Erin Kelly.

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Major Works

‘A Theory of Justice’ is one of his seminal works and magnum opus that was widely hailed during its time of publication as ‘'the most important work in moral philosophy since the end of World War II'.

Awards & Achievements

In 1999, he received the Schock Prize for his work in 'Logic and Philosophy'.

In 1999, he was the recipient of the National Humanities Medal.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1928, when he was barely seven years old, he suffered from diphtheria. The next year, he was struck with pneumonia.

In 1949, he married Brown University graduate, Margaret Fox.

This famous American political philosopher did not like giving interviews and was not comfortable with limelight.

He was an atheist.

In 1995, he suffered from a series of strokes, after which he could no longer work.

He died at the age of 81 in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Facts About John Rawls

John Rawls was known for his love of hiking and spent much of his free time exploring the trails near his home in Massachusetts.

Rawls had a passion for playing the violin and often performed in amateur chamber music groups with friends and colleagues.

Rawls had a deep appreciation for art and was an avid collector of modern paintings, which he displayed prominently in his home.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Rawls was a dedicated environmentalist and actively supported conservation efforts in his community.

John Rawls Biography

You wanted to know

What is John Rawls' theory of justice?

What is the original position in John Rawls' theory?

What is the difference principle in John Rawls' theory?

What is the veil of ignorance in John Rawls' theory?

How does John Rawls' theory of justice apply to distributive justice?