Ethics 5-6: Contractarianism and Distributive Justice

State of Nature

A thought experiment describing human life before or without government and laws.

Hobbes' State of Nature

Characterized as solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short due to scarcity and competition.

Hobbes' Single Natural Right

The fundamental right to self-preservation.

Locke's View of the State of Nature

Generally peaceful, but inconvenient due to the lack of an impartial judge.

Locke's Source of Natural Rights

God, who created humans with purposes like self-preservation and preserving others.

Inalienable Rights (Locke)

Rights to life, liberty, and property that cannot be given away or taken away.

Prisoner's Dilemma

A situation where rational individual choices lead to a worse collective outcome.

Explicit vs. Implicit Contracts

Explicit contracts are clearly stated; implicit ones are unstated agreements backed by societal norms.

John Rawls' Veil of Ignorance

Designing social contracts without knowing one's societal position or natural abilities.

Rawls' Difference Principle

Social and economic inequalities must benefit the least advantaged and be open to all.

Libertarian View on Taxation

Redistribution via taxation violates rights by forcing people to work for others.

Meritocracy

The belief that rewards should be earned through talent and hard work.

Natural Lottery

The random distribution of natural talents and abilities that individuals are born with.

Martha Nussbaum's Capabilities Approach

Justice requires ensuring everyone has the real capabilities to live a full human life.

Affirmative Action Supreme Court Ruling

The Court held that race-conscious admissions systems violated equal-protection principles.