Alexandria Digital Research Library

Responsibility, Luck Egalitarianism and the Egalitarian Aim

Author:
Huizenga, Steven R.
Degree Grantor:
University of California, Santa Barbara. Philosophy
Degree Supervisor:
Christopher McMahon
Place of Publication:
[Santa Barbara, Calif.]
Publisher:
University of California, Santa Barbara
Creation Date:
2011
Issued Date:
2011
Topics:
Philosophy
Keywords:
Luck Egalitarianism
Egalitarianism
Responsibility
Justice
Genres:
Online resources and Dissertations, Academic
Dissertation:
Ph.D.--University of California, Santa Barbara, 2011
Description:

Egalitarians take a just society to be one in which its members are equal. For many egalitarians, the commitment to equality is not absolute; some differences between individuals can be just. In particular, the Luck Egalitarian seeks to neutralize differences that result from brute luck, but allows differences for which one is responsible. This articulation of the egalitarian aim relies on a distinction between two forms of luck: brute luck and option luck. Brute luck engages the egalitarian's concern as something for which one is not responsible, whereas option luck, because it is luck for which one is responsible, does not. This work shows that the distinction between brute and option luck fails in its aim to distinguish those things one is and is not responsible for and so cannot be utilized as a means of articulating the aim of egalitarianism. It also explores an alternative approach the luck egalitarian might utilize to distinguish those things that do and do not engage their concern.

Physical Description:
1 online resource (111 pages)
Format:
Text
Collection(s):
UCSB electronic theses and dissertations
ARK:
ark:/48907/f3x34vdf
ISBN:
9781267194152
Catalog System Number:
990037518620203776
Rights:
Inc.icon only.dark In Copyright
Copyright Holder:
Steven Huizenga
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