The Veil of Ignorance
In short
You are behind the Veil of Ignorance; and do not know who you are or anything about yourself, such as your class, race, privileges, disadvantages, abilities or even personality. You are asked to set the rules and basic structure of society.
History
A thought experiment developed by American philosopher John Rawls to discover the principles that should structure a society of free, equal and moral people. Rawls claims that his Principles of Justice would be chosen by parties behind the Veil of Ignorance.
Why I use it
The veil is the most effective tool I know for making the role of luck vivid. Nobody chooses where, to whom, or with what talents they are born, and a rule one would accept only on the assumption of being lucky is not a rule but a privilege. It is also a way of completing the hidden premise in a moral claim (see Moral claims are incomplete assertions): "because I might have been the one on the other side."
Also see
- Wealth and Luck
- Equality of opportunity
- Equality
- Morality
- Trolley Problem
- John Rawls, Robert Nozick (for the reply)