Chapter 3 – Justice and Economic Distribution
1. Talk of justice and injustice typically focuses on:
fairness, equality, desert, and rights
reason, reflection, deliberation, and fairness
feeling, sentiment, happiness, and equality
fairness, impartiality, duty, and rights
2. Aristotle’s formal principle of justice states,
from each according to his or her ability, to each according to his or her need.
similar cases must be treated alike except where there is some relevant difference.
all people are to be treated the same in every situation.
from each according to his or her ability, to each according to his or her merit.
3. According to Mill’s utilitarianism
rights are certain moral rules, the observance of which is of the utmost importance for the long-run, overall
maximization of happiness.
there are no moral rights.
the rights possessed by human beings remain unchanged for all times and places.
rights are those rules that a majority of the society would agree to behind the “veil of ignorance.”
4. According to libertarianism,
there are no natural, Lockean rights.
we have a basic right to assistance from others.
people should not attempt to coerce others.
happiness takes priority over other moral concerns.
5. According to John Rawls, people in “the original position” choose the principles of justice solely on the basis of
their intuitive knowledge of the natural rights of all human beings.