John Rawls
American political philosopher (1921 to 2002); author of A Theory of Justice (1971).
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What they believe
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Unjust laws and institutions must be reformed or abolished, however efficient they are
A theory however elegant and economical must be rejected or revised if it is untrue; likewise laws and institutions no matter how efficient and well-arranged must be reformed or abolished if they are unjust.
archive.orgSaid c. 1971This on korrents
The bold line is korrents’ wording; the quote is theirs. These one: what they wrote before what they said aloud, one per source, newest first.
Beliefs
Korrents What they believe 10 beliefs — each backed by an exact quote.
Each is a — compiled by korrents.com, not by them: the one-line wordings are korrents', the quotes are theirs.
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Unjust laws and institutions must be reformed or abolished, however efficient they are
A theory however elegant and economical must be rejected or revised if it is untrue; likewise laws and institutions no matter how efficient and well-arranged must be reformed or abolished if they are unjust.
A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971) Said c. 1971
Each person has an inviolability that even society's overall welfare cannot override
Each person possesses an inviolability founded on justice that even the welfare of society as a whole cannot override.
A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971) Said c. 1971
In a just society equal liberties are settled and not open to political bargaining
Therefore in a just society the liberties of equal citizenship are taken as settled; the rights secured by justice are not subject to political bargaining or to the calculus of social interests.
A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971) Said c. 1971
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The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance
The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance.
A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971) Said c. 1971
The natural distribution of talents and birth is neither just nor unjust
The natural distribution is neither just nor unjust; nor is it unjust that persons are born into society at some particular position.
A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971) Said c. 1971
What is just or unjust is how institutions deal with natural facts
What is just and unjust is the way that institutions deal with these facts.
A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971) Said c. 1971
Each person should have an equal right to the most extensive basic liberty compatible with others' liberty
First: each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive basic liberty compatible with a similar liberty for others.
A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971) Said c. 1971
Truth and justice, as first virtues, are uncompromising
Being first virtues of human activities, truth and justice are uncompromising.
A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971) Said c. 1971
No one deserves their natural abilities or their starting place in society
No one deserves his greater natural capacity nor merits a more favorable starting place in society.
A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971) Said c. 1971
Purity of heart would be to see and act from the standpoint of justice
Purity of heart, if one could attain it, would be to see clearly and to act with grace and self-command from this point of view.
A Theory of Justice (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1971) Said c. 1971
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