Video 24: What Is Justice?

• The aim of distributive justice is to treat everyone equally and to provide everyone equal opportunity

• Aristotle: treat people according to merit (talent, abilities), but give them what they need (even if they do not do anything specifically to merit such treatment). This latter policy recognizes that the existence of social inequalities make virtue impossible for everyone because both the poor and the rich would be unable to participate fully in deliberation about the common good

• Marx/Engels: the state should provide the means for each person to become a full human: in that way, each person contributes according to his/her ability, and each gets according to his/her need

• Rawls (liberalism): no one should be punished for accidents of class, race, sex. The welfare state tries to correct the inequalities of birth. Inequalities are justified if everyone has access and those at the bottom benefit from the existence of those inequalities

• Objection: this is impractical because people won't accept redistribution of wealth

• Nozick (conservatism; minimal state): the right to property is basic; the redistribution of wealth (taxation) is theft

• Global justice: inequalities of wealth among nations requires developed nations to help others

• Developed nations should forgive debts to developing nations and drop immigration barriers

• We ignore our duties to others because, with everyone else doing it, it is easy.  We should share at least the surplus and cut back on luxuries