Justice distribution Justice fairness giving to each their
Justice distribution Justice = fairness; giving to each their due and nothing “ less or more. 1. Retributive – Punishing criminals Retribution 2. Distributive – Dividing up the good and resources of society
Liberalism A Liberal government is a government the stated goal of which is to protect human rights and freedoms. Marked by the following features: 1. Democratic government 2. Expressed belief in basic human rights 3. A Mixed economy, containing both government funded/run enterprises, and private enterprise
The Liberal Tradition Libertarians Key value – Freedom as personal liberty to do as one pleases Want a minimal government with power limited to courts, police, and military Oppose any income tax or tax on inheritance Progressives Key value – Freedom as equality of opportunity and quality of living Want a welfare state that makes sure no one falls below a certain basic standard of living Favor a progressive tax system in which the wealthy pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes
Two Views of Freedom Libertarians Progressives Freedom = being left alone to do what I want (negative freedom) Freedom = having the obstacles that keep me from living fully removed (Positive Freedom)
Do we own ourselves? Immanuel Kant b. 1724 d. 1804 Lived in Prussia (now Germany) all of his life Founder of the moral system known as deontology
Categorical Imperative “Act so that you treat humanity [persons], whether in your person or that of another, always as an end and never as a means only. ” Translation: It is always wrong to treat a person as if they were nothing more than a thing; always wrong to treat them like an object
Respecting Persons Person – df. 'a rational being' To be a rational being one must posses (a) selfawareness, (b) be able to make complex free choices, and (c) have a concept of right and wrong
Kant Vs. The Libertarians Libertarianism – We each own ourselves and may do whatever we like with ourselves. Selfownership is the foundation of morals. You are free whenever you do as you please Kant – We don’t own ourselves. We are not property, not even our own property. Respect for the dignity of ourselves and others is the foundation of morals. You are only free when you rationally choose to act morally
Selling organs
Nozick's argument for Libertarianism It is my money! I EARNED it! I DESERVE it! Meritocracy – the view that those who do well in society earned it, and that those who do poorly deserve it.
A Fair Race?
Rawls' argument for Progressivism A Theory of Justice (1971) “against Meritocracy ” The amount of money you make is largely a result of dumb luck, in two ways 1) what talents you are born with, and 2) supply an demand How much you earn does NOT depend on what you morally deserve
The Original Position The Veil of Ignorance
We Would not choose 1. Communism 2. Utilitarianism
Two Principles of Justice 1. The Principle of Equal Liberty 2. The Difference Principle Wins if they conflict
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