📜intro to political science review

Rawls’s theory of justice

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Rawls's theory of justice, proposed by philosopher John Rawls, advocates for a society where the fairest distribution of resources and opportunities is ensured through two principles of justice. These principles prioritize basic rights and liberties for all while permitting social and economic inequalities only if they benefit the least advantaged members of society.