A Theory of Justice

In John Rawls’s A Theory of Justice, the balance between individual rights and the common good is a fundamental aspect of his conception of justice as fairness. Rawls argues that a just society must protect the basic liberties of individuals while also promoting the welfare of all its members, particularly the least advantaged. This balance is crucial to ensuring that justice is both fair and practical, allowing for a harmonious and stable society in which individuals can pursue their own goals within a framework that supports the collective well-being.

Rawls argues that the equal liberty principle and the difference principle, which provide a framework for bestowing individual rights, are essential to respecting the moral worth of individuals, as they allow people to pursue their own conception of the good life, or eudaimonia. Like Aristotle, Rawls believes that happiness is achieved not through the pursuit of wealth or pleasure but through cultivating virtues such as fairness, free expression, and moral integrity. Individual rights allow people to pursue these virtues. This reflects Rawls’s commitment to liberal democracy, where the protection of personal freedoms is a cornerstone of society.

However, Rawls recognizes that a just society must promote the common good, particularly through the difference principle.