s." Rational contractors, deliberating behind a "veil of ignorance," agree toa scheme of justice prior to knowing how the scheme materially affectstheir individual interests or conceptions of moral or nonmoralgood(s).

For, as he increases the uncertainty in the contract situationto fend off the problems that Wolff presented, Rawls makes the contract situa-tion more and more untypical of the actual practice situation. The contracteesknow that the 'veil of ignorance' will soon lift and that they will get informa-tion concerning their talents and their roles in the institutions and practices oftheir society

But if this is so, the contractees will certainly not decide upon a strategysuch as "no advantage to me is acceptable unless it is to the advantage of thoseworse off." For, while this may be reasonable in a situation of uncertainty, itis not reasonable in a situation with information. In the latter case, a rationalegoist will adopt a new strategy that will maximize his interests alo

One sculpture that perfectly illustrates both of these instances is The Veiled Virgin, a 19th-century work by Italian sculptor Giovanni Strazza.

Veiled Lady, c. 1860

It is, then, through you that I come to discover all that God is. And as a man, when I walked upon your plane, I began to realize that the greatest gift that I could ever receive would only come to me as I chose to surrender every perception that I might conjure up about you, my brother or sister, that would veil the Truth that is true about you always.