Distributive Justice

Distributive Justice. UPSC 2018 Paper 1A Qn 1c

Distributive justice is an ethical concept concerned with the fair distribution of resources, benefits, and responsibilities among individuals in a society.

To determine the principles of distributive justice, David Miller identified three criteria -

    1. Protection of acknowledged rights - The principle of the protection of acknowledged rights gives information about 'hierarchical order'. In this system, people demand the protection of existing rights and they deny the relief to underprivileged sections.
    1. Distribution according to desert - Distribution according to desert upholds a competitive market system. It rules out the privilege based on birth and determines one's share of social benefits according to one's contribution to the social good. It allows the owners of private property to multiply their wealth by hiring the physical and mental capacities of the working classes at competitive rates. It widens the gap between rich and poor.
    1. Distribution according to need - Distribution according to need is possible only if abundant goods and services exist. It kills incentives and discourages talented and energetic people from giving their best to society, which would further impoverish society and make applying this principle more difficult.

Philosophers like Rawls, and Robert Nozick have contributed significantly to the theories of distributive justice, exploring the best interests of the society. A judicious combination of need-based and desert-based principles to meet the minimum needs of people to ensure their survival and basic education is appropriate.

 

 

 

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