Shue Flashcards
Issues addressed in Shue
- Pollution (esp greenhouse gasses) are costs that have benefited DCs and burdened LDCs
- How to fairly clean up the mess?
- Justice problem w/in human ethics.
Complete egalitarianism
all good things ought to be shared equally
Which values does shue think should be distributed equally?
Dignity and Respect (the key moral value)
Equal dignity is aligned with
being treated fairly.
NOTE:
economical efficiency or maximal output do not always coincide with fairness
What are the justifications for imposing unequal burdens on DCs?
- The burden=the cost of reducing emissions/pollution
2. Assume inequality between developed and developing nations (P. 38).
Assume inequality between developed and developing nations (P. 38).
- Reduce inequality due to unfair advantages
- Prevent those at the bottom from suffering from additional inequality now and into the future.
- Protect those on the bottom from becoming worse than what is already intolerably low
What does Shue mostly talk about?
the burden of reducing pollution because we need to pollute to develop economically
One example of burden of climate change
extreme weather events
Unequal burdens goal
restoration of equality by assigning greater burdens to the advantaged (not just rewarding good behavior)
Shue Principle 1
- A has taken advantage of B
- B has not consented
- A should take on more burdens than B until equality has been restored
- what kind of moral principle is this (not polluter pays)
Possible objections to Principle 1
- LDC’s have benefited from enrichment of DC’s (medicine and technology)
- The environmental damage was unintentional (punishment different than responsibility)
- The damage was not done by current members of DC’s
The damage done was not by current members of DC’s
- but DC’s currently enjoy benefits from past
- Different life prospects
Principle 2: Greater ability to pay
- if A and B face some common trouble, and
1. A has more resources than B, then
2. A should contribute more to fixing the trouble
Why are flat rates “misleadingly” fair?
the same proportion of tax on people with different incomes can have very different results
Objections to progressive rates
progressive rates of contribution create disincentive effects
3 replies to progressive rates
- fairness different than incentives
- limitless growth? not all growth is sustainable
- how much incentive is enough
Principle 3: guaranteed minimum
If:
1. A has more than enough for a decent life,
2. B does not have an adequate minimum and,
3. the total resource base is more than enough for everyone and,
4. A can still have more resources than B after guaranteeing B a basic minimum,
Then:
- it is not fair to prevent B from attaining at least an adequate minimum
Objection of principle 3: Guaranteed minimum
- over-population is objection
2. are obligations to help limited by country borders
Helping to maintain minimum: weak
don’t interfere with another country’s ability to maintain minimum
Helping to maintain minimum: strong
advantaged should provide assistance across borders
weak implies
don’t interfere with LDCs in their quest for minimum
- if you DCs reject doing more, don’t ask LDCs for their help
