Navigation
Exploring how a just society decides who gets what in terms of wealth, opportunity, and goods.
Imagine you and ten friends find a treasure chest. One friend found the map, one friend did all the digging, and one friend hasn't eaten in two days. Who should get the biggest share of the gold?
Distributive Justice is the branch of ethics that asks how a society should share its resources, rights, and opportunities. It isn't just about money; it's about everything from hospital beds to clean water. Philosophers look for a fair 'formula' for distribution. Two of the most common formulas are Merit (you get what you earn through hard work or talent) and Need (you get what you require to survive and thrive). While merit encourages people to be productive, a focus on need ensures that no one is left behind due to bad luck or disability.
Imagine a class pizza party with 10 students and 20 slices of pizza. 1. Merit Approach: The teacher gives 5 slices to the student who got the highest grade, 3 to the runner-up, and 1 to everyone else. 2. Need Approach: One student skipped breakfast and is lightheaded; they get 4 slices. A student who just ate a large lunch gets only 1. 3. Equality Approach: Everyone gets exactly 2 slices, regardless of hunger or effort.
Quick Check
If a hospital gives a kidney transplant to the person most likely to survive the surgery, which distribution principle are they using?
Answer
They are using a form of merit or efficiency-based distribution (rewarding the 'best' candidate for success), though it also touches on maximizing the utility of a scarce resource.
Why would a wealthy person agree to give up some of their money to help others? This is explained by the Social Contract—an unspoken agreement where citizens follow laws in exchange for protection and stability. A key part of modern social contracts is the Social Safety Net. This is a collection of services like public schools, unemployment insurance, and healthcare. These programs act like a literal net: if you 'fall' due to a job loss or illness, the net catches you before you hit the ground. Philosophers like John Rawls argued that if we didn't know whether we'd be born rich or poor (a concept called the Veil of Ignorance), we would choose a society that protects the least advantaged.
Consider a group of 100 workers. Each pays dollars a month into a central fund. 1. In any given month, only 2 workers lose their jobs. 2. The fund now has dollars. 3. The 2 unemployed workers receive dollars each to pay for groceries while they look for new work. 4. Even though 98 workers 'lost' their , they gained the security of knowing the fund will be there if they are next.
Quick Check
What is the primary purpose of a 'social safety net' in a society?
Answer
To provide a minimum level of support and resources to prevent individuals from falling into extreme poverty or hardship during difficult times.
Scarcity occurs when the demand for a resource is higher than the supply (). When there isn't enough for everyone, societies must choose a 'gatekeeper' method. Market Pricing uses money: whoever pays the most gets the item. Rationing uses a fixed limit: everyone gets an equal, small amount. Lottery uses random chance: everyone has an equal shot, but only a few win. Each method has trade-offs. Markets encourage production but favor the rich; rationing is fair but can lead to 'black markets' where people trade their rations illegally.
A ship is sinking. There is 1 lifeboat left that holds 5 people, but 10 people are on deck. 1. The Market Solution: Auction the seats to the highest bidders. (Problem: Only the wealthy survive). 2. The Merit Solution: Give seats to the ship's doctor, the navigator, and the strongest rowers. (Problem: Is a doctor's life worth more than a child's?) 3. The Lottery Solution: Draw straws. (Problem: You might lose the doctor, and then no one knows how to steer the boat).
Which principle of distribution focuses on rewarding hard work and individual achievement?
If a city provides free public bus passes only to citizens earning below a year, which concept are they applying?
Scarcity only exists in poor countries where there is not enough food.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to explain the difference between 'merit' and 'need' to a friend using the pizza party analogy.
Practice Activity
Look at a news story about a resource shortage (like water or housing). Identify which method the government is using to decide who gets that resource: is it price, need, or a lottery?