Rawls' Original Position
A visual depiction of the hypothetical rational choice situation, the original position, that is to guarantee the fairness of the principles of justice that a society chooses for its institutions.
image/svg+xml
Rawls' Original Position
3 October 2016
Philosophy Ink
https://github.com/philosophyInk/philosophy-visualized
John Rawls, "A Theory of Justice"
original position
veil of ignorance
theory of justice
A visual depiction of the hypothetical rational choice situation, the original position, that is to guarantee the fairness of the principles of justice that a society chooses for its institutions.
A red-skinned male with athletic build
Red-skinned Male Athlete
A yellow-skinned female with athletic build
Yellow-skinned Female Athlete
A stick person represents a rational contractor in the original position behind the veil of ignorance. The veil hides personal information from the stick person; that is, the stick person does not know which individuated person on the other side of the veil s/he is. Consequently, the stick person can only impartially choose principles of justice.
Generic Stick Person in the Original Position behind the Veil of Ignorance
A stick person represents a rational contractor in the original position behind the veil of ignorance. The veil hides personal information from the stick person; that is, the stick person does not know which individuated person on the other side of the veil s/he is. Consequently, the stick person can only impartially choose principles of justice.
Generic Stick Person in the Original Position behind the Veil of Ignorance
Generic Stick Person in the Original Position behind the Veil of Ignorance
A stick person represents a rational contractor in the original position behind the veil of ignorance. The veil hides personal information from the stick person; that is, the stick person does not know which individuated person on the other side of the veil s/he is. Consequently, the stick person can only impartially choose principles of justice.
Generic Stick Person in the Original Position behind the Veil of Ignorance
A stick person represents a rational contractor in the original position behind the veil of ignorance. The veil hides personal information from the stick person; that is, the stick person does not know which individuated person on the other side of the veil s/he is. Consequently, the stick person can only impartially choose principles of justice.
A stick person represents a rational contractor in the original position behind the veil of ignorance. The veil hides personal information from the stick person; that is, the stick person does not know which individuated person on the other side of the veil s/he is. Consequently, the stick person can only impartially choose principles of justice.
Generic Stick Person in the Original Position behind the Veil of Ignorance
A male with light-brown skin.
Light-brown-skinned Man
A dark-skinned woman.
Dark-skinned Woman
A stick person represents a rational contractor in the original position behind the veil of ignorance. The veil hides personal information from the stick person; that is, the stick person does not know which individuated person on the other side of the veil s/he is. Consequently, the stick person can only impartially choose principles of justice.
Generic Stick Person in the Original Position behind the Veil of Ignorance
A pink-skinned little person.
Pink-skinned Dwarf
A pink-skinned man who needs a cane in order to walk.
Pink-skinned Man with Cane
A dark-brown-skinned man whose left arm has been
amputated.
Dark-brown-skinned Male Amputee
A pink-skinned woman with poor eyesight who needs to
wear spectacles in order to see well.
Pink-skinned Woman Wearing Glasses
The veil prevents the hypothetical generic stick people on the left side of it from having knowledge of their specific characteristics, such as sex, gender, race, wealth, ethnicity, religious affiliation, and talents, as exhibited in the actual people on the right side of the veil.
The Veil of Ignorance
The veil prevents the hypothetical generic stick people on the left side of it from having knowledge of their specific characteristics, such as sex, gender, race, wealth, ethnicity, religious affiliation, and talents, as exhibited in the actual people on the right side of the veil.
The Veil of Ignorance