"Justice as fairness," a concept articulated by philosopher John Rawls, refers to a framework for evaluating the fairness of social institutions. It posits that principles of justice should be established under a hypothetical original position, where individuals choose rules without knowledge of their personal circumstances or advantages. This encourages equitable treatment and the fair distribution of resources. The core idea is to create a system where all individuals have equal rights and opportunities, helping to mitigate inequalities within society and fostering a more just political landscape.