Madison Kwiecinski – Editor-in-Chief

Mvk5945@psu.edu 

Photo Credit: PNG Tree

It is undeniably evident throughout history that politics are a divisive topic and have been essentially since their beginning. Modern day, people sit down for holiday dinners desperately hoping to avoid the topic of the last election, and, of course, another argument with their great-grandparents. But why are people unable to see eye to eye on these topics? 

I would like to take a moment before this next thought to point out that I am fully aware that differences in personal political ideologies is a complicated and nuanced subject that will not be changed by what I am about to say. However, I have always found it incredibly difficult to explain why everyone cannot come to agreement, especially on specific political issues that benefit the common good, and I believe that everyone can benefit from viewing the world through the “Veil of Ignorance,” as proposed by the late political philosopher John Rawls.  

Essentially, viewing the world through a veil of ignorance means to view it as though you could have been born as anyone in the world, shared in any number of struggles that you have currently avoided because of the life you were born into. For example and to apply it to a modern political conflict, I believe that if everyone viewed politics through the veil of ignorance many more people would support universal health care, because that is something that benefits the common good.  If you were born into poverty and needed medical treatment, you would obviously support free healthcare. 

The veil of ignorance is a philosophical way of thought that is meant to remove the influence of your current life from decision making, in order to help make a more just decision, doing what is best for those who need it the most. 

We live in a society where many of the most important decisions in politics are made by people who were born into good circumstances, or who, at the very least, never will have to worry about whether they have dinner on the table at night. I believe the point in viewing the world in a way that ignores your current circumstances in life is that it makes you more compassionate and sympathetic to those less fortunate than you, because in another life that could have been you. 

I think the veil of ignorance is why it is important to be in support of programs that benefit those in unfortunate circumstances, those who need food or shelter. I also think if this was something done throughout history, it would have stopped centuries of injustice done against people of color and women in society. 

To be clear, I do not think it is possible for everyone to universally apply viewing the world through this veil of ignorance, nor did John Rawls. It is an idealistic view of thought, meant to show the thought process that would have had to be used from the very beginning in order to create a perfect society. 

However, I think there is something to be learned from it. In your everyday life, it is important to recognize that everyone around you has experienced, and is currently experiencing something totally different than you. I think viewing the world in this light is how we move toward a more just and fair society.