John Rawls The American political philosopher John Rawls, one of the leading defenders of egalitarian liberalism in the 20th century, March 20, 1987, Paris. (more) A Theory of Justice work by Rawls Written by Brian Duignan Brian Duignan is a senior editor at Encyclopædia Britannica. His subject areas include philosophy, law, social science, politics, political theory, and religion. Brian Duignan Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Mar. 20, 2026 •History A Theory of Justice, the major work of the American political and ethical philosopher John Rawls (1921–2002), is a landmark defense of political liberalism. Following the book’s publication in 1971, the viability of liberalism became a major theme of political philosophy in English-speaking countries. In A Theory of Justice, Rawls observes that a necessary condition of justice in any society is that each individual should be the equal bearer of certain rights that cannot be disregarded...

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