Single Idea 20552

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 4. Original Position / a. Original position]

Full Idea

The original position is presented by Rawls as modelling the sense in which citizens are to be understood as free and equal.

Gist of Idea

The original position models the idea that citizens start as free and equal

Source

report of John Rawls (A Theory of Justice [1972]) by Adam Swift - Political Philosophy (3rd ed) 3 'Strikes'

Book Reference

Swift,Adam: 'Political Philosophy (3rd edn)' [Polity 2014], p.133


A Reaction

In other words, Rawls's philosophy is not a demonstration of why we should be liberals, but a guidebook for how liberals should go about organising society.