The Original Position

John Rawls proposed a thought experiment in 1971. Place yourself behind a veil of ignorance — you must design a society's rules without knowing your race, gender, intelligence, wealth, health, talents, or any other personal trait. You could end up as anyone.

This setup strips away self-interest. A billionaire would not design rules favoring the rich, because they might end up poor. A healthy person would not neglect healthcare, because they might be born disabled. Not knowing your position forces impartiality.