The role of desert in distributive justice
The idea of desert is central to the way in which we evaluate the distribution of rewards to others. This thesis looks to outline the core idea of desert and then defend it against the charge that it is inherently inegalitarian. Part I begins with an analysis of the concept of desert in which it is argued that, while otherwise indeterminate, it requires that the claimant must (a) express value to the world, and (b) in at least some minimal sense control the expression of that value. It is shown that the control condition, which permits us to say that the value displayed actually belongs to the claimant, is undermined by the influence of good and ill luck. Requital is contingent on whether one's initial endowments and the subsequent episodes of chance happen to favour the realisation of what is valued by others. The standard response by liberal egalitarians to this problem has been to maintain the contributory, or output-based, model of desert, while looking to offset the effect of uneven endowments. In Part II it is proposed that a compensatory model of desert is superior because it is insensitive to the amount of value people produce, whilst remaining sensitive to their personal ends. On this reading, the
Wigley, Simon
Philosophy
The role of desert in distributive justice. The idea of desert is central to the way in which we evaluate the distribution of rewards to others. This thesis looks to outline the core idea of desert and then defend it against the charge that it is inherently inegalitarian. Part I begins with an analysis of the concept of desert in which it is argued that, while otherwise indeterminate, it requires that the claimant must (a) express value to the world, and (b) in at least some minimal sense control the expression of that value. It is shown that the control condition, which permits us to say that the value displayed actually belongs to the claimant, is undermined by the influence of good and ill luck. Requital is contingent on whether one's initial endowments and the subsequent episodes of chance happen to favour the realisation of what is valued by others. The standard response by liberal egalitarians to this problem has been to maintain the contributory, or output-based, model of desert, while looking to offset the effect of uneven endowments. In Part II it is proposed that a compensatory model of desert is superior because it is insensitive to the amount of value people produce, whilst remaining sensitive to their personal ends. On this reading, the
role desert distributive_justice idea desert central way evaluate distribution reward others look outline core_idea desert defend charge inherently part begin analysis concept desert argue otherwise indeterminate require must express value world least minimal sense control expression value show control_condition permit say value display actually belong undermined influence good ill luck contingent whether initial endowment subsequent episode chance happen favour realisation value others standard response liberal egalitarian problem maintain contributory output based_model desert look offset effect uneven endowment part propose compensatory model desert superior insensitive amount value people produce whilst remain sensitive personal end reading