<Dl> <Dd> "...no one knows his place in society, his class position or social status, nor does anyone know his fortune in the distribution of natural assets and abilities, his intelligence, strength, and the like . I shall even assume that the parties do not know their conceptions of the good or their special psychological propensities . The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance ." </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> "...no one knows his place in society, his class position or social status, nor does anyone know his fortune in the distribution of natural assets and abilities, his intelligence, strength, and the like . I shall even assume that the parties do not know their conceptions of the good or their special psychological propensities . The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance ." </Dd> <P> According to Rawls, ignorance of these details about oneself will lead to principles that are fair to all . If an individual does not know how he will end up in his own conceived society, he is likely not going to privilege any one class of people, but rather develop a scheme of justice that treats all fairly . In particular, Rawls claims that those in the Original Position would all adopt a maximin strategy which would maximise the prospects of the least well - off . </P> <Dl> <Dd> "They are the principles that rational and free persons concerned to further their own interests would accept in an initial position of equality as defining the fundamentals of the terms of their association ." (Rawls, p. 11) </Dd> </Dl>

What is the core principle behind social contract theory