A Theory of Justice is a philosophical work in which the author describes the meaning of justice. To Rawls, justice is basically the same thing as fairness, as it promotes equality among the people, supports equal rights among people of different races, and supports the even the lowest economic ranks of society.
To explain his theory, Rawls uses a thought experiment that he calls the original position. In a hypothetical original situation, two people are interacting with one another. They are equally uninterested in the affairs of the other, and are therefore shielded from the thoughts of one another in something he calls the veil of ignorance.
Rawls emphasizes that the first of his amendments - that people should be given equal liberties, takes priority over the others. For this reason, he listed it first, and it is most important because it is the foundation for the rest of his beliefs. Rawls continues to describe how these principles all interact with one another to create a society that is just right - not too much of a utopia, but a society that everyone would want to live in.
