John Bordley

Rawls
American moral, legal and
political philosopher
(February 21, 1921 –
November 24, 2002)

Presented By :-
Keshav Kumar
PGFB2130
 Impact of john Rawls life on
their work
• His attorney father and social activist mother were able to
provide him with a privileged upbringing.

• The deaths of two of Rawls' brothers, who had contracted

illnesses from him unknowingly, opened his eyes to the
randomness of pain.

• If this was not enough, he saw the horrors and lawlessness

of the Second World War in the final stages of the
European campaign.

• All this inspired him to go into academia with a far from

arcane mission: he wanted to use the power of ideas to
change the unjust world he was living in.
Famous Writing

The problem of distributive justice

(the socially just distribution of
goods in a society)
 John Rawls Theories
W H AT I S A G O O D S O C I E T Y A C C O R D I N G T O Y O U ?

I N W H I C H Y O U R I N T E R E S T S A R E AT A P R I V I L E G E D P O S I T I O N .

L I M I TAT I O N O F T H E P E R S P E C T I V E U N FA I R O R U N J U S T

J O H N R AW L S H A D T R I E D T O P R O V I D E A T H E O R Y O F J U S T I C E FA I R O R J U S T

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HOW
 John Rawls Theories
Individuals - Will take decision about how society should be organized.

but before that they should be in original position.

Veil of Ignorance A situation in which one do not know the position

which he /she is going to occupy.( Rich, poor,
privilege or disadvantage.

ADVAN
TAGE
 John Rawls
Theories
Take the decision from
the point view of the
In complete ignorance individual will not know
who or what they will be
worst off
They will support a decision about the rules of
organization of that future society which would be
fair for all member

ADVANTAGE OF CREATING THIS SITUATION

It would make sense for each person, acting in his or her
own interest, to try to think of rules of organization that will
ensure reasonable opportunities to the weaker section.
 John Rawls
Theoriesveil of ignorance.
Is it possible to erase all our identities and to imagine oneself under a

It is equally difficult for most people

to be self sacrificing and share their
good fortune with strangers.

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 John Rawls
Theories
Failing and limitation Then how this idea works ?

Rational persons will not only see things Veil of ignorance it expects people to just be their
from the perspective of the worst off they usual ration selves.
will also try to ensure that the policies
they from benefit the society as a whole.
It is in their interest to think from the position of the
worst-off.

Fairness would be the outcome of rational action ,not benevolence or generosity.

Rational thinking not morality ,could lead us to be fair and judge impartially
regarding how to distribute the benefit and burden of a society.
T h a n k
yo u !