Understanding Rawls’ Fairness vs. Trump’s Division

By: WPS News Education Reporters
Baybay City | October 2, 2025

Alright, so let’s break this down. There’s this smart guy named John Rawls, and he had some interesting ideas about fairness and justice in society. He wrote a book called “A Theory of Justice” where he talks about two big ideas: the original position and the veil of ignorance.

John Rawls’ Concepts:

1. Original Position: Imagine a group of people trying to make rules for a society, but none of them know anything about themselves—like whether they’re rich, poor, or anything else. In this situation, they’d pick fair rules because they wouldn’t want to get stuck in a bad spot. It’s all about fairness for everyone.
2. Veil of Ignorance: This idea goes hand-in-hand with the original position. It’s like putting on a blindfold so you can’t see who you are or what you have. If you were making decisions for society while blindfolded, you’d want to choose rules that treat everyone fairly, right? You wouldn’t want to make rules that could hurt you later on.

Now, let’s talk about Donald Trump:

Donald Trump is a former president, and he has a completely different style. His approach is more about “us vs. them,” which means he often creates divisions among people instead of trying to bring everyone together.

1. Partisanship and Division: Instead of focusing on what works best for everyone, he talks a lot about loyalty to his side. This can create tension and make it harder to agree on what’s fair for all, which is the opposite of what Rawls believes.
2. Policies: When Trump makes decisions or policies, he tends to favor certain groups, which might leave others out. For example, if he pushes for tax cuts that mainly help the wealthy, that doesn’t really help those who are struggling financially.

Comparing the Two:

• Fairness vs. Division: Rawls wants everyone to have a fair shot, while Trump often divides people into groups, which isn’t great for fairness.
• Self-Interest vs. Impartiality: Rawls believes decisions should be made without thinking about yourself. Trump, on the other hand, often acts in a way that boosts his own supporters.

Conclusion:

So, while Rawls is all about fairness and equality, Trump’s style often focuses more on dividing people and catering to his side. Understanding these differences can help us think about how leadership affects society and how we can work toward a fairer system.

Now, apply this to your future job—having a fair mindset might just be what you need to get ahead, instead of just worrying about running off the “other guys.”