Final answer:
John Rawls argues that principles prioritizing citizen well-being should govern our collective life, emphasizing fundamental liberties and ensuring that social and economic inequalities benefit the least advantaged, from an egalitarian viewpoint.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Rawls, an American philosopher, contends that our collective life should be governed by certain principles that prioritize the well-being of citizens. In his book A Theory of Justice, Rawls introduces the concept that society is a system of mutual cooperation and that principles of justice should account for human freedom and social welfare. Rawls proposes two major principles:
- The liberty principle, which asserts that every person has an equal right to a set of fundamental liberties.
- The difference principle, which requires that social and economic inequalities work to the benefit of the least advantaged and are attached to positions open to all under fair conditions of opportunity.
These principles reflect Rawls's egalitarian approach, advocating for a social arrangement that addresses the inherent inequalities of society and aims to afford moral worth and equal status to all individuals.