John Rawls
America's most important political philosopher of the 20th century, Rawls argued for principles of justice derived from a hypothetical 'veil of ignorance' behind which rational agents choose social arrangements. A Theory of Justice revived normative political philosophy after decades of positivist neglect. He remains the touchstone of liberal political theory.
Works
- A Theory of JusticeFoundational theory of justice based on fairness and the social contract
- Political LiberalismFramework for liberal democracy reconciling individual rights and pluralism
- The Law of PeoplesExtension of justice theory to international relations and peoples
- Justice as FairnessConcise restatement of principles of justice and fair distribution
- A Brief Inquiry into the Meaning of Sin and FaithTheological essay on the concepts of sin and religious faith
- Collected Papers