Social and Economic Justice - Home, Southeast Missouri State 社会和经济正义-家居，东南密苏里州立.pptVIP

Social and Economic Justice Chapter 10 Beauchamp and Bowie Theories of Distributive Justice What do we mean by “distributive justice?” The “proper” distribution of social benefits and burdens How to allocate scarce “goods” These goods may be income, wealth, opportunity Principles of Distributive Justice Equality Need Rights Effort Societal contribution Merit Theories of Social Justice Utilitarian Theory Egalitarian Theory Libertarian Theory Communitarian Theory Utilitarian Theory Justice is the maximization of net benefits to society – outcome is what matters! Depending upon the issue, any of the six principles may apply If we are talking about medical care, distribution according to individual need may maximize net benefits If we are talking about income, individual effort combined with merit may maximize net benefits Singer’s Preference Utilitarianism Obligation to Assist humans have always been social and part of a community that helps them develop If we can prevent something bad without sacrificing anything of comparable significance, we ought to do it; absolute poverty is bad; there is some poverty we can prevent without sacrificing anything of comparable moral significance; therefore we ought to prevent some absolute poverty. With number 3 above he is making some interpersonal comparisons of utility - i.e., a second car is less important (of less moral significance) than reducing world poverty Egalitarian Theory Radical egalitarians demand complete equality Qualified egalitarians understand that some inequality may be necessary John Rawls’s Theory Qualified egalitarian Must have equality with respect to basic rights and liberties Each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive basic liberty compatible with similar liberty for others. Liberty Principle Rawls’s Basic Liberties political liberty - right to vote and to run for public office freedom of speech and assembly freedom of thought freedom of the person right to hold personal proper