Political Science 1020E Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Ronald Dworkin, Totalitarianism, Harry Frankfurt
19 Nov 2015
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1. taxation need not reduce the freedom of those who are taxed. Ronald dworkin: taxes restrict my freedom only if i have a right to my money. Cohen: taxes always restrict my freedom because they limit my choices. Swift: redistributive taxation reduces the freedom of the rich but increases the freedom of the poor. 2. redistribution can help people, regardless of its effect on freedom. Taxes can be used to provide public goods or to improve prospects for the worst off. So, redistribution can help promote security, efficiency, equality, happiness. Freedom is valuable, but it is not the only value. 3. redistribution can increase the total amount of effective freedom. Taxes reduce the effective freedom of those who are taxed, but can increase the total amount of effect freedom. We need to evaluate the importance of the value of freedoms: market societies make their members unfree by alienating them from their real interests.
