Top 4 A Theory of Justice quotes
“Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought. A theory however elegant and economical must be rejected or revised if it is untrue; likewise laws and institutions no matter how efficient and well-arranged must be reformed or abolished if they are unjust. Each person possesses an inviolability founded on justice that even the welfare of society as a whole cannot override. For this reason justice denies that the loss of freedom for some is made right by a greater good shared by others. It does not allow that the sacrifices imposed on a few are outweighed by the larger sum of advantages enjoyed by many. Therefore in a just society the liberties of equal citizenship are taken as settled; the rights secured by justice are not subject to political bargaining or to the calculus of social interests.”
Chapter 1, Page 3
This excerpt from the first section of the book highlights some of the key arguments that the author presents over the course of the book. The theory of justice is essential for social institutions, while equal basic liberties are essential in the theory of Justice. Rawls also emphasizes the importance of vigorously examining and dissecting philosophical theories so as to establish their validity.
“Thus the more advantaged, when they view the matter from a general perspective, recognize that the well-being of each depends on a scheme of social cooperation without which no one could have a satisfactory life; they recognize also that they can expect the willing cooperation of all only if the terms of the scheme are responsible. So they regard themselves as already compensated, as it were, by the advantages to which no one (including themselves) had a prior claim. They forego the idea of maximizing a weighted mean and regard the difference principle as a fair basis for regulating the basic structure.”
Chapter 2, Page 88
In this quote, Rawls attempts to explain why the most fortunate members of society would choose to accept an arrangement in which they cannot continue to leverage their wealth to make themselves ever richer without having to worry about the poorer sects of society.
“Thus although the two principles of justice may be superior to those conceptions known to us, perhaps some hitherto unformulated set of principles is still better.”
Chapter 3, Page 106Rawls repeatedly states that he does not believe his theory of Justice as fairness is the perfect representation of justice, but merely that it is the optimal one at present. He compares his theory with other people's philosophies and convincingly proves the suitability of his theory over others. Yet, he continues to encourage the reader to question his theory and to remain on the lookout for a theory that may apply better than his.
“Thus to see our place in society from the perspective of this position is to see it sub specie aeternitatis: it is to regard the human situation not only from all social but also from all temporal points of view. The perspective of eternity is not a perspective from a certain place beyond the world, nor the point of view of a transcendent being; rather it is a certain form of thought and feeling that rational persons can adopt within the world. And having done so, they can, whatever their generation, bring together into one scheme all individual perspectives and arrive together at regulative principles that can be affirmed by everyone as [they live] by them, each from his own standpoint. Purity of heart, if one could attain it, would be to see clearly and to act with grace and self-command from this point of view.”
Chapter 9, Page 514
In the closing lines of the book, Rawls gives the reader a purpose for his theory of Justice as fairness. This is perhaps one of the most popular quotes from the book as he emphasizes the importance of Justice in society, irrespective of time, location, and culture.
