Egalitarianism and the Separateness of Persons
Egalitarianism and the Separateness of Persons. Alex Voorhoeve and Marc Fleurbaey. Utilitas 24 (2012): 381-98.
27 Pages Posted: 9 Aug 2021
Date Written: 2012
Abstract
The difference between the unity of the individual and the separateness of persons requires that there be a shift in the moral weight that we accord to changes in utility when we move from making intrapersonal tradeoffs to making interpersonal tradeoffs. We examine which forms of egalitarianism can, and which cannot, account for this shift. We argue that a form of egalitarianism which is concerned only with the extent of outcome inequality cannot account for this shift. We also argue that a view which is concerned with both outcome inequality and with the unfairness of inequality in individuals’ expected utilities can account for this shift. Finally, we limn an alternative view, on which such inequalities are not intrinsically bad, but nonetheless determine the strength of individuals’ competing claims. We argue that this ‘Competing Claims View’ can also account for the shift.
Keywords: equality, separateness of persons, distributive ethics
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