Luck Egalitarianism and Domestic Redistribution
Orsolya Reich (PhD fellow, Central European University) presents a discussion of luck egalitarianism and the question of domestic redistribution.
Abstract:
Luck egalitarianism holds that inequalities deriving from morally arbitrary factors are unjust. However, when they arise from choices for which people can properly be held responsible, they are justified. Since in our world nationality largely determines people’s lot in life, luck egalitarians who wish to endorse a massive intra-state and weigh less voluminous extra-state redistribution, should explain (i) why nationality is not a morally arbitrary factor, or (ii) why this morally arbitrary factor should still be allowed to play an equality-upsetting role. The aim of this paper is twofold. First, it aims at exploring the alternatives luck egalitarians have in justifying the above scheme of redistribution. Second, it purports to investigate the strategy that appeals to the non-arbitrary nature of nationality. The paper shows that those who are willing to follow this strategy have some interesting arguments at hand, but those arguments can hardly establish their case.
Download the seminar poster here.
The paper is expected to be read in advance and can be downloaded from http://cesem.ku.dk/papers/.
Please, register by sending an email to cesem@hum.ku.dk.
Everybody is welcome!