SOC102H1 Lecture Notes - Christopher Jencks, Wilbert E. Moore, Social Inequality
Document Summary
Natural inequalities: born attributes that create an advantage or disadvantage. Some natural inequalities can turn into social inequalities. Social inequalities are unjust if it exceeds natural inequalities. Inequality = unjustifiable privilege, so equality is when people are being defensibly fair and vice versa. Inequality in distribution of scarce goods can be justified if the favoured are the disadvantaged. Rewarding people according to their achievements may seem logical, but in fact it may relate to social inheritance, which ties in with social inequality. Kingsley davis and wilbert moore: functional theory of stratification. Some positions are more functionally important (essential) and hence deserve more rewards, based on the values society put on that position. However, the classification of functionality is sketchy and the value determined is highly subjective. Also, it ignores the (unearned) inheritance of wealth and status. Also ignores class conflicts and other disagreements on what is the most important roles.
