JOHN RAWLS – LIFE AND MIND Contemporary philosopher John Bordley Rawls provided the liberal world with an ethical theory that placed the concept of justice at the center of his concentration. John Rawls was arguably one of the most influential political philosophers of the 20th century after World War II. Rawls published his first book, "A Theory of Justice," in 1971, which was widely considered his best work and the most important work of political philosophy. Rawlsianism, Rawls's philosophical basis, aimed to challenge utilitarian principles and thus received both strong support and strong opposition.2Biographical noteJohn Rawls was born into a wealthy family in Baltimore, Maryland, where he attended school until graduation.1 Rawls studied at Princeton University and was soon drafted into the U.S. Army as an infantryman.2 After turning down an officer's position, Rawls returned to Princeton where he received a doctorate in philosophy in 1949.2 After teaching and studying at Princeton University, Cornell and MIT, he decided to take a position teaching philosophy at Harvard where he taught until 1990.1 Despite his intellectual fame, Rawls lived a retired life as a family man and scholar rather than a public intellectual.2 John Rawls brought the study of political theory back to the front pages of academic journals. institutions around the world.I. The basic structure of society The main social goods proposed by Rawls are (1) rights and freedoms, (2) opportunities and powers, and (3) income and wealth, of which any reasonable person would desire more rather than less . Rawls believes that we have a right to these goods and that it is the collective responsibility of the community...... middle of paper ......ert Cavalier and Charles Ess. “A Theory of Justice (1971).” John Rawls. http://caae.phil.cmu.edu/cavalier/Forum/meta/background/Rawls.html (accessed February 18, 2014). Nussbaum, Martha. “A Theory of Justice, by John Rawls.” The Enduring Importance of John Rawls. http://www.ohio.edu/people/piccard/entropy/rawls.html (accessed February 16, 2014)."Philosophers.co.uk." John Rawls. http://www.philosophers.co.uk/john-rawls.html (accessed February 18, 2014). “Rawlsian.” European Business Ethics Network Ireland. http://ebeni.wordpress.com/decisions/theories/duty/contract/rawlsian/ (accessed February 18, 2014). “Rawlsian Ethics.” Regis University. http://rhchp.regis.edu/hce/ethicsataglance/RawlsianEthics/RawlsianEthics_01.html (accessed February 18, 2014). Rawls, John. A theory of justice. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard UniversityPress, 1971. Print.