Equality Flashcards
what does dworkin think about resource and welfare?
dworkin argues against welfare because he says we don’t know how to measure it, some people just can’t be satisfied, and welfare eliminates individual responsiblity. instad he says everyone should have equal resources adn opportunities.
is dworkin a welfare-egalitarian or a resource-egalitarian?
RESOURCE
Idea of Envy Test by Dworkin?
value of goods is determined by an aucition (st is important if ppl think its important)
idea of hypothetical insurance scheme by dworkin?
all immigrants pay an equal premium for insurance
goal -> equal access to resources (not outcome/ welfare)
what does dworkin is “amition sensitive & endowmen sensitive” mean?
he cares about how much effort people put in, but not what resources they started with.
option luck
calculated gamles that can turn bad or good.
brute luck
risks that are NOT deliberately taken and can have an impact on outcomes.
what did dworkin add to rawls?
he adapted the Rawlisian thesis that focused on equal distribution of resources, but also considered differences in ambition.
- more nuanced approach to distributive justice & accounts for things beyond your own control.
4 problems with dworkin.
- inter-generational giving
- radical mind changes
- profligacy
- politics
problems with dworkin inter-generational giving
can parents pass on to children - this woudl perpetuate inequality
problems with dworkin- radical mind changes
questions whether a chane in individuals goals justifies redistribution.
- ppl can change their minds.
problems with dworkin- profligacy
what happens if someone wastes all their resources, should we let them die- what’s the threshold?
problems with dworkin- politics
can we have economic equality w/out political equality.
egalitarian plateau
treating everyone in a community equally & with respect.
recognition (equality)
we should focus on social relations & recognition instead of redistribution to address inequality!
- this means recognizing rights, love, culture etc.
some things can’t be solved by distributing resources
recognition equality 3 examples
a. Feminism
b. Recognition & Self-Respect - you respect yourself if ppl see u
c. Recognition & Community- inequality also leads to a divided society- and divided societies lack a sense of solidarity.
positional goods define
items that can’t be redistributed ebcause their value relies on the fact that not everyone can have them!
positional goods consequence
creates compeition & hierarchy- leading to envy and resentment
utilitarianism aims to…
maximize the total amount of something like resource or utility
equality x utilitarianism?
utilitarianism focuses on total, but the distribution
ppl who are always dissatisfied may get more things!
prioritarianism says
its more important to prioritize those who are in greater need rather than an equal distribution of resources
diminishing principles
the strength/ credibility of the reason for redistribution matters more than ensuring equality
sufficiency says
what rlly matters isn’t full equality, but rather that everyone has sufficient resources.
4 arguments that say liberalisma and egalitarianism can coexist
- redistribution is ok bc we have limited claim to property
- redistribution can be justified on other grounds- even if redistribution restricts freedom, it can still make people better off
- redistribution is justified due to increase in overall effective freedom (having the resources to act in a certain way)
- all of this is ideological artifice- private property and market relations make people unfree by making them misunderstand their actual interests
- redistribution can be justified on positive freedom grounds- positive freedom is the idea that we are free when we obey a higher moral law- recognizing our duty to distribute is a moral obligation
