THE METHOD OF A THEORY OF JUSTICE

Onora O’Neill’s article analyzes the methodological framework of John Rawls’s A Theory of Justice. She distinguishes between simple abstraction and the more controversial idealization used to construct the "original position." O’Neill argues that Rawls’s ultimate justification rests not on hypothetical contracts, but on reflective equilibrium—achieving coherence between principles and our considered judgments. Finally, she traces Rawls's shift toward "political liberalism," where justice is grounded in the public reason of democratic citizens. THIS ABSTRACT IS GENERATED WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.