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Paper 3 - Political Philosophy > Equality > Flashcards

Equality Flashcards

1
Q

What are the arguments in regards to equality of what? (For, Objections, Alternative)

A
  • Rawls
  • Objections
  • Sen
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2
Q

What is your line of argument in regards to equality of what? (Two points)

A
  • Rawls’ theory is flawed as it does not account for natural primary good and does not distinguish between bad luck and choice.
  • Sen provides a comprehensive theory of equality which is intuitive. If we manage to find a way to measure capabilities then it would be extremely convincing.
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3
Q

What is Rawls’ argument in regards to equality of what? (Three points)

A
  • He argues for an equality of resources.
  • That we should all have an intial expectation of an equal set of primary goods.
  • Alongside the principle of justice, any other inequalities are justified.
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4
Q

What does Rawls focus on in his theory of resources rather than pure equality?

A

He focusses on how when inequalities are justified.

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5
Q

What are Rawls’ primary goods?

A

These are things such as income, wealth, education, healthcare, and rights.

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6
Q

What are the two aspects of Rawls’ principle of justice?

A
  1. All offices and positions are open to all.
  2. Offer the most advantage to those most disadvantaged.
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7
Q

What is the name of the second point in Rawls’ principle of justice?

A

The difference principle.

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8
Q

What does the difference principle entail?

A

It ensures that any benefit gained within society is most advantagous to those most disadvantaged.

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9
Q

When are inequalities justified according to Rawls?

A

When everyone has an equal initial set of primary goods and the justice principle is satisfied.

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10
Q

What does Rawls say about our entitlements to the products of our labour and why? (Two points)

A
  • He states that we do not have full entitlement to the products of our labour.
  • This is because we produce things cooperatively.
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11
Q

What impact does Rawls’ opinion on our entitlement to the products of our labour have? (Two points)

A
  • It means that any benefit we gain from our labour is reciprocity.
  • It undermines what we deserve.
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12
Q

What are the objections to Rawls’ equality of resources? (Two points)

A
  • He does not count natural primary goods, such as someone being disabled, as counting towards being worse-off.
  • It does not distinguish those that are worse-off due to luck or choice.
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13
Q

What does Sen say about Rawls’ index of primary goods?

A

It would work if we were all very similar, but we aren’t.

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14
Q

What does Sen argue for?

A

Equality of basic capabilities

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15
Q

Explain Sen’s equality of basic capabilities. (Two points)

A
  • We should all be entitled to an intial set of basic capabilities.
  • He states that when we talk about equalities, what we care about is capabilities.
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16
Q

What are basic capabilities?

A

Things that a person should be able to do.

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17
Q

What is the main criticism by Sen against Rawls’ primary goods and consequentialist utility?

A

They think that we care about material things or a mental reaction, respectively, when considering equality.

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18
Q

What must we do in order to equalise capabilities?

A

Provide with differing levels of things according to their individual situation.

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19
Q

What are the three benefits of Sen’s equality of capabilities?

A
  • It accounts to what we intuitively think of when considering equality.
  • Accounts for disabled people.
  • Accounts for people with expensive tastes.
20
Q

What is an issue with Sen’s equality of capabilities?

A

How do we measure capabilities?

21
Q

What are the arguments in regards to whether redistribution is unjust / we own the fruits of our labour? (For, Against, Alternative)

A
  • Nozick
  • Cohen
  • Left libertarianism
22
Q

What is your line of argument in regards to whether redistribution is unjust / we own the fruits of our labour? (Two points)

A
  • Whilst Nozick’s argument is more compelling than Cohen’s, it still struggles as it completely disregards inequality and leads to more unfreedom.
  • Therefore, we should strive for a middle ground such as that of the left libertarian.
23
Q

What is Nozick’s libertarianism? (Three points)

A
  • Rests on an assumption of self-ownership.
  • From that he claims that justice is about entitlement.
  • Claims that redistribution is a form of slavery as it unjustly takes entitlements and violates people’s right to the fruits of their labour.
24
Q

What is Nozick’s argument for self-ownership?

A

He argues that if we do not have self-ownership then we could be prone to exploitation.

25
Q

What could no self-ownership lead to? (Two points)

A
  • The eye lottery scenario.
  • Slavery
26
Q

How does Nozick’s self-ownership connect to the rights of the fruits of our labour? (Two points)

A
  • As we own ourselves, we own our labour.
  • We can sell our labour or sell the product of our labour.
27
Q

What determines whether we own the fruits of labour according to Nozick?

A

Self-ownership and owning the raw materials used.

28
Q

What is Nozick’s theory of entitlement?

A

We are entitled to something if the distribution of that something was just.

29
Q

How can we categorise Nozick’s theory of justice of distribution?

A

As a historical one: justice is considering how people came to have what they have.

30
Q

What are the three principles that determine whether someone’s entitlement is just according to Nozick?

A
  • Initial acquisition of resources
  • Transfer of resources
  • Rectification of injustice
31
Q

Explain Nozick’s initial acquisition of resources principle.

A

Someone is justified in acquiring resources as long as others’ net utility is not worsened.

32
Q

Explain Nozick’s transfer of resources principle.

A

The transfer of resources to be done voluntarily.

33
Q

Explain Nozick’s rectification of injustice principle.

A

If any holding are deemed unjust then there is compensation.

34
Q

Are there any limits to Nozick’s theory of entitlement and why?

A

No limit as it would infringe on individual liberty.

35
Q

How does Nozick’s theory of entitlement relate to redistribution being unjust?

A

As we own the fruits of labour and our holdings (if just) then being coerced into giving it away is a form of slavery.

36
Q

What is Nozick’s issue with egalitarianism?

A

It sacrifices too much of our liberty.

37
Q

What are the benefits of Nozick’s overall theory? (Two points)

A
  • They are at first intuitive, especially in the capitalistic world we live in.
  • Stops absurd scenarios such as the eye lottery from occurring.
38
Q

What are Cohen’s objections to Nozick? (Two points)

A
  • Self-ownership leads to undesirable results.
  • The inequality of Nozick leads to more unfreedom.
39
Q

What is another objection to Nozick’s theory of self-ownership other than unfreedoms?

A

Self-ownership can be refuted.

40
Q

How can self-ownership be refuted?

A

If we all own the fruits of our labour, then mothers own their babies.

41
Q

How does self-ownership lead to undesirable results according to Cohen?

A

It allows for high levels of inequality as people can exploit others for simply owning more.

42
Q

How does Nozick’s theory lead to more unfreedom according to Cohen?

A

Due to the vast inequalities, there will be a small amount of people that have lots of liberty but a vast amount of people that cannot due to their lack of funds.

43
Q

What is the main issue with Cohen’s objections?

A

He seems to disregard self-ownership entirely, which would still allow for the eye lottery scenario which is arguably worse than the inequalities of Nozick.

44
Q

What does the left libertarian argue? (Two points)

A
  • That we can have both self-ownership and redistribution.
  • This could be done by sharing equally the initial acquisition of natural resources.
45
Q

What benefit does the left libertarian argument have?

A

It keeps self-ownership that we find intuitive whilst also limiting inequalities.

46
Q

What is an additional condition we could add to left libertarianism?

A

Perhaps set a limit on how many resources one could have and redistributing that.

Paper 3 - Political Philosophy (3 decks)

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