The intellectual trajectory of John Rawls, one of the most influential political philosophers of the 20th century, catalyzed a significant revival of normative political philosophy following the 1971 publication of A Theory of Justice. His framework of justice as fairness sought to reconcile individual liberties with egalitarian social objectives, fundamentally shaping discourse within academic and legal spheres for decades.
Early Education and Academic Formation
Born in Baltimore in 1921, Rawls attended the Calvert School and the Kent School before enrolling at Princeton University in 1939. His undergraduate studies were marked by a profound interest in theology, culminating in a senior thesis exploring doctrines of sin and faith. After completing his Bachelor of Arts in 1943, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II, seeing action in New Guinea and the Philippines. Following his military discharge in 1946, he returned to Princeton to complete his doctorate in philosophy in 1950.
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Rawls began his teaching career at Princeton before joining the faculty at Cornell University in 1953. He held academic appointments at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology starting in 1960 and moved to Harvard University in 1962, where he remained until his retirement in 1991. Throughout his tenure at Harvard, he influenced numerous students who became prominent figures in political and moral philosophy. His work was recognized globally, earning him memberships in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and the British Academy.
Core Philosophical Contributions
Central to his scholarship was the thought experiment known as the original position, which invited individuals to determine societal principles while unaware of their own personal standing. In his subsequent work, Political Liberalism, published in 1993, he analyzed the legitimacy of political power in societies defined by diverse moral and religious beliefs. His final major work, The Law of Peoples, extended these inquiries to international relations. His efforts were recognized in 1999 with the Rolf Schock Prize in Logic and Philosophy and the National Humanities Medal.
Fast facts
- Born: 1921, Baltimore
- Died: 2002, Lexington
- Education: Princeton University
- Key Work: A Theory of Justice (1971)
- Notable Award: National Humanities Medal (1999)
- Burial Site: Mount Auburn Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What is the original position?
It is a thought experiment used by Rawls to determine the fairness of social principles by having participants choose them without knowing their personal status in society.
What is the main premise of justice as fairness?
It advocates for equal basic liberties and equality of opportunity, while ensuring the maximum benefit for the least advantaged members of society.
Achievements
- National Humanities Medal — 1999
- Rolf Schock Prize in Logic and Philosophy — 1999
- Spitz Prize
- Notable work: A Theory of Justice
- Notable work: Political Liberalism
- Notable work: The Law of Peoples
- Held posts at Princeton University, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Fields: political philosophy and political science
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