Politics Archives

John Rawls: The Veil of Ignorance and Justice

What is John Rawls’s “veil of ignorance” assumption? How can ignorance inform justice? The veil of ignorance is a device for helping people arrive at a rational definition of justice. The idea is that by imagining that they are ignorant about their personal circumstances—things like race, sex, gender, age, wealth, and religious beliefs—people can prevent their biases from interfering in their reasoning. Here’s why justice should be founded on ignorance, according to Rawls.

Foreign Policy Failures: America’s 2 Misguided Assumptions

Has the U.S. been naive in its foreign policy since the end of the Cold War? Is overwhelming military force the answer to every threat? General H. R. McMaster describes how poor fundamental assumptions have clouded U.S. foreign policy in ways that are detrimental to itself and other nations. He discusses how these flawed assumptions have led to foreign policy failures in multiple corners of the world. Continue reading to learn about McMaster’s take on U.S. foreign policy.

What Is Section 230? Social Media Immunity Explained

What is Section 230 in terms of social media companies? Why is it being challenged? U.S. Code Section 230 is a law saying companies that provide access to information via the internet are not liable for content posted by third parties. If the Supreme Court rules that Section 230 doesn’t apply to social media companies, they will likely block all controversial content to limit their liability. Read on to learn about Section 230 and how these changes may transform social media as we know it.

The Best John Rawls Quotes From A Theory of Justice

Are you looking for John Rawls’s quotes from A Theory of Justice? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? In A Theory of Justice, John Rawls explores the best and most just way a society can distribute social goods like rights, wealth, and power. He argues that people can and should determine the distribution of these goods entirely through reason, rather than by appeals to one’s identity—sex, race, religion, etc. Below is a selection of passages highlighting some of the key ideas.

American Military Strength: H. R. McMaster’s Call to Action

How should the U.S. deal with Russian aggression and Chinese economic warfare? In what ways should the U.S. go on the offensive? In Battlegrounds, General H. R. McMaster describes the global challenges that the U.S. faces. He believes they can be met under certain conditions. He urges the U.S. to remain vigilant against open aggression and to use the truth to counter the propaganda of oppressive regimes. Read more to learn McMaster’s recommendations regarding American military strength in the current global climate.

A Theory of Justice by John Rawls: Book Overview

What’s a definition of justice everyone can agree on? How should wealth and power be distributed in society? What obligations do citizens have to each other? These are some of the questions John Rawls confronts in his 1971 work, A Theory of Justice. The conclusion is Rawls’s theory of “justice as fairness,” which merges liberalism’s emphasis on equal rights and individualism with economic equality and safety nets for the most vulnerable members of society. Below is a brief overview of John Rawls’s book A Theory of Justice.

Diversity Is Strength: General McMaster on American Pluralism

Is diversity a strength or a weakness? How can it be leveraged to make America stronger against its adversaries? General H. R. McMaster argues that the U.S. can face its global challenges with long-term goals. One strategy he recommends is to turn American diversity into strength and reaffirm education as a fundamental bulwark of democracy. Continue reading to understand McMaster’s argument that diversity is strength.

John Rawls: The Original Position Negotiation Steps

What is the purpose of the original position? What conclusions are most likely to result from the debate under the original position? The original position is a hypothetical situation where a group of equals must arrive at a rational definition of justice. According to John Rawls, the original position ensures that the decision-makers won’t tend toward utilitarian theories of justice and will arrive at many of the same conclusions. Keep reading to learn how the original position is negotiated and what the likely conclusions are.

John Rawls’s 2 Principles of Justice (A Theory of Justice)

What are John Rawls’s two principles of justice? How might each principle influence the rules and distribution systems of society? Rawls’s principles of justice result from the original position. The principle of distributive justice states that everyone should have equal rights, liberties, and duties. The difference principle states that some inequality can be permitted in circumstances where it makes the least advantaged better off. Keep reading to learn about Rawls’s principles of justice as fairness.

John Rawls on Basic Liberties, Rights, and Conflicts

What does John Rawls say about basic rights and liberties? Under what circumstances does Rawls’s theory allow for the restriction of individuals’ basic rights and liberties? According to John Rawls’s theory of justice, everyone in society is entitled to basic equal rights, liberties, and duties. However, Rawls acknowledges that conflicts between different rights and liberties can arise. Here’s what Rawls says on rights and liberties.