A Theory of Justice

“Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought. A theory however elegant and economical must be rejected or revised if it is untrue; likewise laws and institutions no matter how efficient and well-arranged must be reformed or abolished if they are unjust. Each person possesses an inviolability founded on justice that even the welfare of society as a whole cannot override. For this reason justice denies that the loss of freedom for some is made right by a greater good shared by others. It does not allow that the sacrifices imposed on a few are outweighed by the larger sum of advantages enjoyed by many. Therefore in a just society the liberties of equal citizenship are taken as settled; the rights secured by justice are not subject to political bargaining or to the calculus of social interests.” 

This first passage of the first section of the book articulates its theory, purpose, and the guidelines for its reasoning. Justice is to be given priority among social institutions, equal basic liberties are to be given priority within the theory of justice, and the theories presented in the upcoming pages are to be vigorously attacked to flesh-out their validity as philosophical arguments. 

“Rather, the guiding idea is that the principles of justice for the basic structure of society are the object of the original agreement. They are the principles that free and rational persons concerned to further their own interests would accept in an initial position of equality as defining the fundamental terms of their association.” 

This provision explains the original position, the vantage of persons in the original position, and the agreement reached in the original position. By illustrating this criterion, this provision lays the groundwork for all subsequent theory.

“Now by an institution I shall understand a public system of rules which defines offices and positions with their rights and duties, powers, and immunities, and the like.” 

Social justice flows through institutions. Persons fill the offices of such institutions and compel them to act in accordance with established principles of justice to govern societies.