Global egalitarianism as a practice-independent ideal
In this thesis I defend the principle of global egalitarianism. According to this idea most of the existing detrimental inequalities in this world are morally objectionable. As detrimental inequalities I understand those that are not to the benefit of the worst off people and that can be non-wastefully removed. To begin with, I consider various justifications of the idea that only those detrimental inequalities that occur within one and the same state are morally objectionable. I identify Thomas Nagelâs approach as the most promising defence of this traditional position. However, I also show that Nagelâs argument does not even justify the elimination of detrimental inequalities (that is to say: egalitarian duties of justice) within states. A discussion of the concept of political legitimacy rather shows that egalitarian justice is not a necessary condition of the justifiability of the exercise of coercive political power. I, then, consider other, more Rawlsian approaches to the question of detrimental inequalities. These views appear more plausible than Nagelâs position and argue that egalitarian duties also arise in certain international contexts. But also these more global theories of distributive
Reglitz, Merten
B Philosophy (General) ; JC Political theory
Global egalitarianism as a practice-independent ideal. In this thesis I defend the principle of global egalitarianism. According to this idea most of the existing detrimental inequalities in this world are morally objectionable. As detrimental inequalities I understand those that are not to the benefit of the worst off people and that can be non-wastefully removed. To begin with, I consider various justifications of the idea that only those detrimental inequalities that occur within one and the same state are morally objectionable. I identify Thomas Nagelâs approach as the most promising defence of this traditional position. However, I also show that Nagelâs argument does not even justify the elimination of detrimental inequalities (that is to say: egalitarian duties of justice) within states. A discussion of the concept of political legitimacy rather shows that egalitarian justice is not a necessary condition of the justifiability of the exercise of coercive political power. I, then, consider other, more Rawlsian approaches to the question of detrimental inequalities. These views appear more plausible than Nagelâs position and argue that egalitarian duties also arise in certain international contexts. But also these more global theories of distributive
global egalitarianism practice independent ideal defend principle global egalitarianism according idea exist detrimental inequality world morally detrimental inequality benefit bad people non remove begin_consider various justification idea detrimental inequality occur_within state morally identify thomas_nagel promise defence traditional position however also_show argument even justify elimination detrimental inequality say egalitarian duty justice within state discussion concept political legitimacy rather show egalitarian justice necessary_condition justifiability exercise coercive political_power consider approach_question detrimental inequality view appear plausible position argue egalitarian duty also arise certain international_context also global theory distributive