Distributive Justice Distributive o Distribution of resources Justice o Fairness o Not necessarily same as equal How do we distribute resources fairly?

ly? There are three theories in the syllabus for Distributive Justice this year. If the government decides to confiscate all possessions from Singaporeans for redistribution, what would be a fair way to redistribute it? o All distributed equally o Give more to those who need it i.e. Disabled get more o Give more to those who contribute to society

1. Strict Egalitarianism o Theory Same level of goods and services for all (assumption that everyone is of equal value/worth) i.e. Everyone gets the same 1kg of potatoes, regardless of whether you are hungrier or not o Conditions level = quantity only fair = equal o Reception People who are comfortable with their lives will not like this theory; though those who have issues trying to feed themselves everyday will find this attractive. o Issues Index Problem Problem: What to distribute? o Different quality of the same item Solution: Money as a denomination o Problem: Not everything can be reducible to money Time-Frame Problem Problem: When to distribute? o The best time to distribute Solution: Implement a time-frame and regular distribution (like monthly salary) or maybe also have a reset, where remaining money is collected back before redistribution o Problem: Disparity caused by differences in spending/saving habits Solution: Just Savings (e.g. CPF) Slow Progress No incentive for anyone to work hard Regardless of effort, the same reward will be given, so both the hardworking people and the slackers will eventually lose incentive to contribute Inadequate contributions = Slow growth Ultimately ? People do not get what they deserve, regardless of individual contributions o Fair = rewarding contribution? Different people have different needs o E.g. someone would needs medicine but others may not be still they are given one portion each, which is insufficient for that one person o Solution: Make needs a public provision

2. Rawls o Motivation o Cake problem: Theres a cake that must be divided into four pieces for four people and you will decide how it will be divided, but not how it will be distributed o Proof o Original Position and Veil of Ignorance Ignoring all forms of possible prejudice and judging everyone equally, regardless of their identity Putting oneself in a position where everyone is stripped of their social identity, status and at a minimum level o Theory o Known as a strategy To maximize the minimum Help the disadvantage level-up Playing it as safe as possible by choosing the alternative whose worst outcome leaves us better off than the worst outcome of all others Talent and effort are not rewarded o 1) Equal rights to basic liberties o 2) (a) Social and economic inequalities are permitted da Inequalities must be to the greatest benefit of the data least advantaged da (b) Condition where opportunities for positions and data offices must be open to all and fair o There is a minimum baseline that MUST be fulfilled for every single person, but beyond the baseline, differences (based on ability etc.) are acceptable. o Issues o Talented people Objection 1: There are no accommodations for incentives to motivate the talented, which will lose motivation to work hard and society will stagnate. Reply: Incentives can and will be given to the talented, under the circumstances that it will bring up the people with least advantages. i.e. Employee in a huge company (that drives the country) will just waste the money, whereas giving the money to the company will boost the economy and increase wages for the employee Objection 2: Talent people may not deserve their natural talent but they deserve the rewards their effort brings because of their talents. Reply: Talented people are more likely to put in more effort and contribute more by nature because of their talents, thus talent should not be rewarded.

3. Utilitarianism o Creator o JOHN STUART MILLS o Theory o The only thing valuable/desirable is obtaining pleasure/avoiding displeasure. ( o happiness

o unhappiness o Does not involve the quantity of people Not exactly each person to count for 1 happiness Only under the pretext that the people have a same experience o Not exactly greatest amount of happiness for greatest number of people Differing amounts/degrees of happiness o Different from democracy o Issues o Ignores individuality of human beings (Rawls Objection) Objection: Some people may have to suffer for the sake of the happiness of others and this is acceptable where the happiness produced is greater than the unhappiness produced. This ignores the individuality for the suffering people o Objection: A machine that can simulate and create experiences in the brain to generate pleasure (and avoid displeasure). This will be the key to ULTIMATE happiness and logically everyone will want to be there forever. But many will hesitate because as they will doubt whether it is real. This means that happiness is not the most important but rather the reality of a situation may be; REAL EXPERIENCES MATTER.