Kristin Mike Olvina Santigo Cassie Carlson Travis Langolf LP5- Ethical Theories Presentation Performance Assessment Task 6 10/27/2009.

Justice or Fairness ApproachKristin Mike

Olvina SantigoCassie CarlsonTravis Langolf

LP5- Ethical Theories PresentationPerformance Assessment Task 6

10/27/2009

Summary of Justice or Fairness ApproachFocuses on how fairly or unfairly our actions

distribute benefits and burdens among the members of a group.

Fairness requires consistency in the way people are treated.

http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/approach.html

Summary of Justice or Fairness ApproachThe principle states: "Treat people the

same unless there are morally relevant differences between them."

Examples of what is offered as morally justifiable reasons for treating people differently: need, merit, effort, fault, etc.

Justice and Fairness Example:http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/

decision/justice.html

Who Influenced the Development of Justice and Fairness?

Individual that contributed to the Fairness and Justice approach:John Rawls-Harvard philosopher (1921-2002 )

developed a conception of justice as fairness in his now classic work A Theory of Justice .

He was one of the most important political philosophers in the late 20th century.

http://homepage.newschool.edu/het/profiles/rawls.htm

Individual that contributed to the Fairness or Justice approach:Rawls proposed the idea of "original position", a

mental exercise whereby a group of rational people must establish a principle of fairness (such as distribution of income) without knowing beforehand where on the resulting pecking order they will end up themselves.

http://homepage.newschool.edu/het/profiles/rawls.htm

Individual that influenced the theory:Rawls used this device to argue that the

optimal arrangement will be to "maximize the welfare of society's worse-off member", which effectively justifies an egalitarian "no-substitution" social welfare function.

Individual that contributed to the justice and fairness approach:Rawls employs a number of thought experiments—

including the famous veil of ignorance—to determine what constitutes a fair agreement in which "everyone is impartially situated as equals," in order to determine principles of social justice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_RawlsPage 144, Text, Weston

First criticism of Justice and Fairness approach:

•Robert Norzick

Author of Anarchy State and Utopia

Construed as a response to Rawl’s “A Theory of Justice”

http: enwikipedia.org/wiki/anarchy,_state,_and_utopia

Second criticism of Justice and Fairness• Veil of ignorance

• Criticize it for being similar to Utilitarianism

http://www.2sunysuffolk.edu/pecorip/scccweb/intro_text/

chapter%208%20ethics/justice_as_fairness

.htm

Current ethical dilemma:

“Justice is the first virtue of Institutions”- John Rawls-

2nd Ethical DilemmaEmployer fights to withhold compensationSpeeding officer

References: Penslar Robinl, 1995. Research Ethics: cases and materials. Bloomington:Indiana University Press

www.biodavidson.edu/people/kabern/indep.../theories.htm

www.lldocsouth.unc.edu/H-0239/excerps

Questions to think about:

Review questions:1) The Greek philosopher Aristotle said that

“equals should be treated equally and unequals unequally.” Do you agree or disagree with that statement? Why?

Review Question 22) How would you use Justice and Fairness in

your life? Explain?