John Rawls

John Rawls (February 21, 1921 – November 24, 2002) was an American philosopher, a professor of political philosophy at Harvard University and author of A Theory of Justice (1971), Political Liberalism, and The Law of Peoples.

Rawls's contribution to political and moral philosophy

Rawls is noted for his contributions to liberal political philosophy. Among the ideas from Rawls's work that have received wide attention are:

Related Topics:
Liberal - Political philosophy

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• Justice As Fairness which consists of the liberty principle and the difference principle.
• The original position.
• Reflective equilibrium.
• Overlapping consensus.
• Public reason.

Many academic philosophers believe that Rawls made an important and lasting contribution to political philosophy. There is general agreement that the publication of A Theory of Justice in 1971 led to a revival in the academic study of political philosophy. Rawls' work has crossed disciplinary lines, receiving serious attention from economists, legal scholars, political scientists, sociologists, and theologians. Rawls has the unique distinction among contemporary political philosophers of being frequently cited by the courts of law in the United States and referred to by practicing politicians in the United Kingdom. Philosopher Peter Singer was critical of A Theory of Justice in his book on globalization titled One World, in which he wrote that he was astonished that Rawls had failed "to discuss the injustice of the extremes of wealth and poverty that exist between different" peoples. Singer also attempts to consider fallacies in Rawls' case for equality, and provides an alternative system within the second chapter of his influential book, Practical Ethics.

Related Topics:
A Theory of Justice - Economists - Legal scholars - Political scientists - Sociologists - Theologians

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