Political Liberalism (1993) by American philosopher John Rawls revises his earlier A Theory of Justice (1971), shifting from a single, comprehensive moral doctrine to a political conception of justice compatible with a pluralistic democracy. Rawls introduces the idea of an overlapping consensus, in which diverse but reasonable moral and philosophical views can agree on fundamental principles of justice. He distinguishes between comprehensive moral theories and political conceptions grounded in democratic values—freedom, equality, and fair cooperation. His updated framework upholds two main principles: (1) equal basic rights and liberties for all, and (2) social and economic inequalities allowed only if they ensure fair equality of opportunity and benefit the least advantaged. This work, reissued in 2005 with an expanded discussion of public reason, remains a foundational text in political philosophy.
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