PP110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Political Philosophy, Distributive Justice
SOCIAL & POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
• Both rooted in moral philosophy
• Social Philosophy: normative; study of social behavior of humans and the issues which
arise
• Political Philosophy: normative; study of government, relationship between community
and individuals, justice, rights
o Social Political Philosophy: interaction of social and political philosophy
ARISTOTLE
- Virtue and Justice Debate
o Modern Political philosophers (Rawls) separate virtue from justice
▪ Equality
▪ Promotes freedom
o Aristotle connects virtue and justice -- getting what you deserve is just
JUSTICE: DISPOSITION TO ACT JUSTLY
1. Acting in accordance with the law
2. Acting fairly and equally
a. Distributive justice
b. Rectifactory justice
JUSTICE AND ARISTOTLES MORAL VIRTUES
- Just behavior is virtuous behavior
- Injustice = having too much/too little
JUSTICE IN POLITICS
- Tied to honouring virtue, merit and moral dessert
TELEOLOGICAL REASONING
- Reasoning from the telos
o Aristotle believed this is indispensable to thinking about justice
LIVING A GOOD LIFE
- Why cant we live a good life without participating in politics?
1. Man is a political animal
2. Political deliberation – living the life of a citizen – is necessary to living virtuously
CIVIC VIRTUE
- How is it acquired?
o Live a good life by exercising the virtue, to have certain virtues inculcated in us,
and engage with others in deliberation about the nature of the good
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Document Summary
Virtue and justice debate: modern political philosophers (rawls) separate virtue from justice, equality, promotes freedom, aristotle connects virtue and justice -- getting what you deserve is just. Justice: disposition to act justly: acting in accordance with the law, acting fairly and equally, distributive justice, rectifactory justice. Tied to honouring virtue, merit and moral dessert. Reasoning from the telos: aristotle believed this is indispensable to thinking about justice. Why cant we live a good life without participating in politics: man is a political animal, political deliberation living the life of a citizen is necessary to living virtuously.
