The question asks to identify the political thinker who stated: "No one deserves his greater natural capacity nor merit a more favourable starting place in society". This statement directly relates to the principles of distributive justice and fairness in the distribution of social goods.

Identifying the Source of the Quote

This quote is a core tenet of the political philosophy of John Rawls. He articulated this idea in his seminal work, A Theory of Justice.

Rawls's Theory of Justice

John Rawls argued for principles of justice that individuals would choose if they were unaware of their own specific position in society. This hypothetical scenario is known as the "original position" behind a "veil of ignorance".

• The "veil of ignorance" prevents people from knowing their natural talents, social status, race, gender, or conception of the good.
• In this state, individuals would rationally choose principles that ensure fairness, as they wouldn't want to risk ending up in an disadvantaged position.
• The quote highlights Rawls's belief that the arbitrary nature of both natural endowments (like intelligence or strength) and initial social circumstances (like family wealth or background) means they shouldn't determine a person's entitlement to basic rights and opportunities, or their share of societal benefits.
• Therefore, any inequalities stemming from these factors are only acceptable if they ultimately benefit the least well-off members of society, a principle known as the difference principle.

This contrasts with thinkers like Robert Nozick, who emphasized entitlement based on just acquisition and transfer, or John Stuart Mill, who focused on liberty and utilitarianism, and Karl Marx, who critiqued class structures and advocated for a classless society.

Conclusion

Based on the foundational principles of his theory of justice, particularly the concepts of the original position and the veil of ignorance, the statement about natural capacity and starting place is attributed to John Rawls.