Political Philosophy Philosophy 2B - Ray Critch Lecture 7 - Justice In this lecture Role of Justice in political philosophy? Types of Justice

What is Justice? Plato’s Approach What characterizes justice; a.k.a. in what does justice consist? Cephalus, Thrasymachus, Socrates Macro v. Micro Cephalus’ Answer Thrasymachus’ Answer

What is Justice? Rawls’ Approach What is the scope of justice; a.k.a. to what kind of things does justice apply? ‘Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought. A theory however elegant and economical must be rejected or revised if it is untrue; likewise laws and institutions no matter how efficient and well-arranged must be reformed or abolished if they are unjust.’ (aToJ 1)

Dichotomies of Justice Perfectionist v. Anti-Perfectionist A question of telos and its impact on justice - the metaphysics of political philosophy Perfectionist - Aristotle ‘Our own observation tells us that every state is an association of persons formed with a view to some good purpose. I say ‘good’ because in their actions all men do in fact aim at what they think good.’ (Politics 1)

Dichotomies of Justice Perfectionist - Raz Really anti-anti-perfectionist. Perfectionism consists in: ‘[either] the view that governments should be blind to the truth or falsity of moral ideals, [or that] the falsity, invalidity or stupidity of any other may be a reason for any government action.’ (MoF 108) However: ‘The sources of the appeal of anti-perfectionism are sound. It stems from concern for the dignity and integrity of individuals and from a revulsion from letting one section of the community impose its favoured way of life on the rest. These concerns are real and important. They do not, however, justify anti-perfectionism. (MoF 162)

Dichotomies of Justice Anti-Perfectionism Rawls - in Theory of Justice ‘As citizens, we are to reject the standard of perfection as a political principle, and for the purposes of justice, avoid any assessment of the relative value of one another’s way of life.’ (388) Because ‘Since [subjective] uncertainties plague perfectionist criteria and jeopardize individual liberty, it seems best to rely entirely on the principles of justice which have a more definite structure.’ (291)

Dichotomies of Justice Proceduralist v. Substantivist What justifies a set of principles? Proceduralist - a just outcome can be assured by just principles Rawls, again ‘Pure procedural justice obtains when there is no independent criterion for the right result: instead there is a correct or fair procedure such that the outcome is likewise correct or fair.’

Dichotomies of Justice Substantivist Well-being Approach Raz identifies well-being with success in achieving goals. ‘The point I am making is about the evaluation of the contribution of a person’s project to the success of his life. It is not a psychological point.’ Controversial, but accounts for dignity w/out perfectionism.

Dichotomies of Justice Substantivist Capability Approach Sen and Nussbaum ‘I argue that the best approach to this idea of a basic social minimum is provided by an approach that focuses on human capabilities, that is, what people are actually able to do and to be, in a way informed by the intuitive idea of a life that is worthy of the dignity of a human being.’ (FoJ 70)

Dichotomies of Justice Social Justice v. Global Justice The Scope of Justice - is justice a virtue of particular political societies or of all sociality? Social Justice Application of Justice to a self-contained, usually self-sufficient, group. Rawls, Aristotle, Mill, etc… Special Obligations and duties of citizenship.

Dichotomies of Justice Global Justice Sen, Nussbaum, many Rawlsians. If there are obligations of justice, they do not stop at the ‘water’s edge.’ Objections to Special Obligations The Distributive Objection Moral v. Political Justice