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Summary
This study argues that equality as justice distorts reasoning and has counterintuitive implications. An alternative distributive justice view better explains what egalitarians should value.
Area of Science:
- Political Philosophy
- Social Justice Theory
Background:
- The concept of justice is frequently equated with equality.
- A central debate in political theory concerns 'equality of what?'.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically examine the ideal of equality in theories of justice.
- To propose an alternative framework for distributive justice.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of egalitarian theories.
- Argumentation against the coherence and implications of equality as a primary principle of justice.
Main Results:
- The ideal of equality distorts practical reasoning.
- Egalitarian principles lead to counterintuitive outcomes.
- An alternative view of distributive justice offers a superior account of egalitarian concerns.
Conclusions:
- The pursuit of equality as the sole principle of justice is flawed.
- A revised understanding of distributive justice is necessary to capture core egalitarian values.