Philosophy 2801F/G Chapter Notes -John Rawls, Justice As Fairness, Wing
25 Jul 2012
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Readings week three lecture 1 liberal egalitarianism. Libertarians defend market freedoms and oppose the use of redistributive taxation schemes to implement a liberal theory of equality. One common argument for unrestricted capitalism is its productivity. Utilitarian would support government restrictions on property rights. Because of the declining marginal utility those at the bottom gain more from redistribution than those at the top lose, even when redistribution lessens productivity. The more governments are able to control economic life the more able and willing they will be to control all aspects of our lives. Countries with essentially unrestricted capitalism have sometimes had poor human rights records. We do not favour the free market because people have rights to property. People have a right to dispose freely of their goods and services and they have this right whether or not it is the best way to ensure productivity.
