The two main principles of fairness are liberty and equality.
- Liberty refers to the fundamental rights and freedoms that individuals should possess, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.
- Equality encompasses the idea that individuals should be treated fairly and with equal opportunities, regardless of their background, race, gender, or other personal characteristics.
These principles are often intertwined and can be further subdivided. For example, the principle of equality can be broken down into "fair equality of opportunity" and the "difference principle." The "difference principle" suggests that inequalities in society are only justifiable if they benefit the least advantaged members of society.
These principles are fundamental to a just society, and their implementation can be seen in various contexts, from legal systems to social policies. For example, the US Declaration of Independence emphasizes the principle of liberty by declaring that all individuals are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Similarly, the concept of equality is enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights."
