John Rawls

"Pluralism about conceptions of the good life is consistent with agreement on principles of justice."

"We should seek reflective equilibrium between our principles and considered judgments."

"Justice requires that basic liberties be equally distributed among all citizens."

"A society achieves stability for the right reasons when citizens freely endorse its principles."

"The difference principle allows inequalities only if they benefit the worst-off members."

"We must balance liberty and equality rather than choosing one completely over the other."

"Historical injustices create ongoing obligations to remedy unfair distributions."

"Democratic legitimacy requires that laws be justifiable to all citizens as free and equal."

"The capacity for moral personality is the basis of human dignity and worth."

"Justice between generations requires maintaining the conditions for just institutions over time."

"We should be skeptical of utilitarianism when it would sacrifice minorities for aggregate welfare."

"Fair procedures can produce legitimate political authority even when people disagree about the good."

"Public reason requires that political justifications appeal to values citizens can share."

"The primary goods that any rational person would want include rights, liberties, and opportunities."

"Society should be arranged so the least advantaged are as well off as possible."

"Natural talents and abilities are morally arbitrary and should benefit everyone."

"Constitutional democracy requires both majority rule and protection of minority rights."

"We cannot justify social arrangements merely by appeals to tradition or custom."

"The social contract is not historical but normative, establishing legitimate authority."

"Reasonable disagreement about comprehensive doctrines is a permanent feature of free societies."

"Justice requires that we view social cooperation as mutually beneficial, not exploitative."

"Background justice in distribution of wealth and income is as important as procedural fairness."

"Free and equal citizens can disagree reasonably while sharing commitment to fair principles."

"The basic rights of conscience and expression must be protected in any just society."

"We should judge institutions not by intentions but by their actual effects on people's lives."

"Democratic procedures are valuable both instrumentally and as expressions of respect for persons."

"A well-ordered society is stable when its members accept its principles of justice as justified."

"The separateness of persons is morally fundamental and cannot be overridden for social utility."

"Justice requires opening all positions and offices to fair competition regardless of background."

"We inherit obligations to those who came before us just as we have duties to future generations."