Rawls was a political philosopher best known for his book A Theory of Justice(1971). In it, he introduces the thought experiment of the original position, where individuals must choose the principles of justice to govern their society.
In this scenario, they are placed behind a veil of ignorance, meaning they have no knowledge of their personal characteristics—such as gender, race, or socio-economic status. This ensures that choices are made solely on the basis of fairness, without personal bias.
Rawls argues that under such conditions, individuals would adopt principles of justice that are equitable and that maximize benefits for the least advantaged members of society.