Final answer:
John Rawls' difference principle asserts that inequalities in wealth and privilege are justified only if they benefit the least advantaged in society, focusing on improving their absolute position within a society that provides equal opportunities for all.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Rawls' Difference Principle on Inequality
John Rawls' difference principle asserts that inequality of wealth and privilege is justified to the extent that it benefits the least advantaged in society. This responds to the question by considering Rawls' condition that inequalities are acceptable if they improve the absolute position of the least advantaged, rather than their relative position in society. The principle is not a blanket approval of inequality; rather, it permits inequalities under two conditions: first, they must be attached to positions open to all under fair equality of opportunity, and second, they must serve the greatest advantage of the least advantaged members of society.
Rawls' principle is built upon the idea of society as a cooperative system designed for mutual benefit, particularly focused on improving the position of the least advantaged. Although some critics argue that it requires potentially unjust redistributive policies, or that it may not adequately respect individual liberties or desert, Rawls' framework insists that all inequalities that are allowed must, at their core, serve the greater good of society's less fortunate members.