PO301 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: John Rawls, Justice As Fairness
Document Summary
Ps301 lecture 16: those who, like rawls, affirm the dp believe that tax should be arranged to benefit the worst off because there is a moral requirement that the worst off be made better off. So therefore incentive payments, with lower tax rates for the rich, are unjust. If in doubt whether someone should get what they ask for, cohen says use the interpersonal test; this tests whether it would be a reasonable justification for a policy if it was made by other members of society. Impersonally: public policy should prioritise the interests of the worst off, if too rate tax goes up the productive rich will work less hard, worsening the position of the worst off, so shouldn"t raise tax. Interpersonally: if too tax rate goes up, we (the rich) will work less hard, worsening poor"s position. An ethos of helping and a change in collective attitudes is needed according to cohen.
