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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
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    Rawls's difference principle conditions inequality on max... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→Equality of condition, if part of social justice, must reflect an appropriately limited conception of social responsibility.

    Rawls's difference principle conditions inequality on maximizing the position of the least advantaged, imposing no prior ceiling on redistributive demands.

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    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
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    • 1.Arbitrary natural talents and social circumstances are morally undeserved, so inequalities stemming from them require justification to the disadvantaged.
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    • 2.A principle permitting inequality only when it benefits the worst-off ensures background institutions serve all members, not merely majorities or the privileged.
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    • 3.Without a ceiling on redistribution, society cannot ignore the least advantaged through comforting myths about meritocracy or natural desert.
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    Reasons Against

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    Reason against
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    • 1.Uncapped redistribution demands may eventually reduce total productive output below what maximizes the least advantaged's absolute position.
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    • 2.The principle fails to respect individuals' legitimate entitlements to their own labor and talents, treating them as collective resources.
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    • 3.Without a prior distributional ceiling, the difference principle becomes indeterminate—it cannot specify when sufficient equality has been achieved.
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    Justice & Punishment1 linkedMoral Responsibility1 linked

    Related

    A principle permitting inequality only when it benefits the worst-off ensures ba...Arbitrary natural talents and social circumstances are morally undeserved, so in...Equality of condition, if part of social justice, must reflect an appropriately ...The principle fails to respect individuals' legitimate entitlements to their own...
    +3 moreShow less
    Uncapped redistribution demands may eventually reduce total productive output be...Without a ceiling on redistribution, society cannot ignore the least advantaged ...Without a prior distributional ceiling, the difference principle becomes indeter...

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    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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    1 edit