Final answer:
John Rawls argues that social policies should be based on fairness, emphasizing human freedom and social welfare. His two principles, the liberty principle and the difference principle, focus on equal basic liberties and benefits for the least advantaged, creating egalitarian foundations for social justice.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Rawls' Social Policies
American philosopher John Rawls argues that social policies should be grounded in the notion of fairness that considers both human freedom and social welfare as crucial. He proposes two main principles to govern society within his A Theory of Justice. The first, the liberty principle, advocates for equal basic liberties such as freedom of speech and property rights. The second, the difference principle, suggests that social and economic inequalities should be arranged to benefit the least advantaged and be attached to positions open to all under fair equality of opportunity. Rawls's concept of the original position and the veil of ignorance is a thought experiment designed to achieve a just society by considering policies as if one were ignorant of their own status, thus encouraging policies that do not favor any particular group disproportionately. His theory is a form of egalitarianism, demanding equal moral worth and status for all individuals, which guides the formation of social policies including the notion of a welfare state. Rawls's ideas are supportive of systems that correct inherent structural inequalities and provide fair opportunities for every person. The principles Rawls outlines serve as tools to critique and evaluate the justice of policies in societies, ensuring that measures such as racial or ethnic discrimination are not present, as no one would rationally agree to such terms from the original position. His work is significant in political philosophy and continues to influence debates on social policies and justice.