Developed by John Rawls (A Theory of Justice, 1971), after an earlier argument by John Harsanyi (Cardinal Utility in Welfare Economics and in the Theory of Risk-Taking, 1953).
Tests a policy or rule by asking whether it would be accepted by someone who did not know which position they would occupy under it.
When to reach for it
When designing or judging a policy that treats people in different positions unequally, such as pay, promotion, or the allocation of resources.
How it runs
- Name the policy or rule under test.
- Imagine not knowing where in the result you would land.
- Ask whether you would accept it from every position.
- Note the positions you would refuse.
- Accept inequalities only if they improve the worst-off position.
- Cross-check with other ethical lenses before deciding.
Where it sits in SOLVE eX
Go to the source
- A Theory of Justice, 1971
- Cardinal Utility in Welfare Economics and in the Theory of Risk-Taking, 1953