POLI 319 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Distributive Justice, Fetishism, Preference Utilitarianism
13 May 2018
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Lecture January 12th:
The What and the How of Distributive Justice:
What is the currency of distributive justice?
—If it is a matter of justice how certain goods are distributed, then does it consist of more
than one currency?
—Philosophers are trying to make a common currency
The Equality of What debate— common assumption not only how much of the
good is produced but who it is parceled out to.
Distributive Justice:
-Distributive justice should be comparable. Some people are worse off than others
which makes it a non-comparable currency.
-Liberal neutrality imposes that a state should not take sides among individuals.
Perfectionism implies that the government needs to promote the good to be seen equally
by all.
-Idea of the life of someone going well meaning that they are getting whatever they
want in life and that they are well off. -Hausman and McPherson
Avoiding Fetishism:
-Currency debate meant to figure out why goods are distributed the way that they
are.
-Intrinsically (desirable as an end in itself) vs. instrumentally desirable (not just as
means) Instrumental as an example: Money- not the value of money itself (in reality
it is just a piece of paper) but what people are capable of doing with the money
(the more you have the more you are able to purchase)
-Society itself should not be making choices on preferences for individuals.
But is this kind of obligated if people want to settle on a common
distributional justice at some point in time?
Opportunities or outcomes?
Is how well off someone is from the perspective of distributional justice: how someone
tackles the opportunities to get the right outcome.
Brute and option luck: affects decision making
Document Summary
The what and the how of distributive justice: Philosophers are trying to make a common currency. The equality of what debate common assumption not only how much of the good is produced but who it is parceled out to. Some people are worse off than others which makes it a non-comparable currency. Liberal neutrality imposes that a state should not take sides among individuals. Perfectionism implies that the government needs to promote the good to be seen equally by all. Idea of the life of someone going well meaning that they are getting whatever they want in life and that they are well off. Currency debate meant to gure out why goods are distributed the way that they are. Society itself should not be making choices on preferences for individuals. Is how well off someone is from the perspective of distributional justice: how someone tackles the opportunities to get the right outcome.
