Full Idea
The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance. ...Since all are similarly situated and no one is able to design principles to favor his particular condition, the principles of justice are the rest of a fair agreement or bargain.
Gist of Idea
Choose justice principles in ignorance of your own social situation
Source
John Rawls (A Theory of Justice [1972], §03)
Book Reference
Rawls,John: 'A Theory of Justice' [OUP 1978], p.12
A Reaction
A famous idea. It tries to impose a Kantian impartiality onto the assessment of political principles. It is a beautifully simple idea, and saying that such impartiality never occurs is no objection to it. Think of a planet far far away.