Theories of Justice

Question 1

What is Utilitarianism

Answer 1

It is the theory to maximize happiness for the greatest number of people, letting “common good” serve as the guide for policy. It is common good based on what individuals think will give them happiness

Question 2

What is Egalitarian?

Answer 2

Egalitarian puts equal weight on each individual’s utility

Question 3

What are some issues with Utilitarianism?

Answer 3

Firstly, what is utility?
We may get utility from being wired to a pleasure machine so should that count as much as satisfaction we get from performing a meaningful act

Question 4

Who were some important figures in Utilitarianism (3)?

Answer 4

1. David Hume
2. Jeremy Bentham
3. John S. Mill

Question 5

What is Libertarianism?

Answer 5

Libertarianism is the theory that liberty is a fundamental right -> The right to live as we want without harming others, society does not own us and we have the right of self-possession
There are no paternalistic laws, no moral legislation and no redistribution (taxes = bad)

Question 6

How does Libertarianism and Distribution Justice connect to one another?

Answer 6

Fairness judgements about distributions should be based on how distribution came about -> justice in acquisition and justice in transfer = There has to be free consent

Question 7

What are some issues with Libertarianism (4)?

Answer 7

1. Free markets imply voluntary trade (not always the case)
2. Question of can inequality induce market exchanges that are not free -> contracts made under duress (extreme poverty)
3. Who gets to be an entrepreneur?
4. Why does capital hire labour and not the other way around?

Question 8

What is John Rawl’s Theory of Justice?

Answer 8

His theory is that we let our existing position taint our moral position (ex : rich people don’t like redistributive policies & coal workers don’t like coal tax)
It is important that we arrive at our moral position free from bias and that we shouldn’t think from behind a “veil of ignorance”

Question 9

What would be our choices based on Rawlsian Framework (3)?

Answer 9

1. Want guarantees of freedom of choice, thought and religion -> otherwise we end up as an oppressed minority
2. We are unlikely to choose libertarianism -> would not want to end up at the bottom
3. Would we want a perfectly egalitarian system? -> probably not