Feature of a just society Essay

Assess whether an unequal distribution of property between individuals could be a feature of a just union? (50 marks) By a just society we are referring to the principle of people getting what they deserve or desert theory. Those such as Nozick believe that individuals have an autocratic right to property of income that they themselves create Marx outlined his belief in absolute equality Rawls, however, is the only philosopher able to claim the middle ground and apprize a sensible solution claiming that an unequal distribution of property cease, with certain constraints, benefit the worthlessest in society.Nozicks view on the distribution of property focuses on the getting even of how it came about. Self-ownership of ones own talents and abilities is key to his way of thinking. If, for example, Cristiano Ronaldo asked his football club to pay him 25p for each ticket sold, the fans being happy to pay the extra, and 400,000 people watched him be that season thence he would b e ? 10,000,000 better off. This is perfectly just according to Nozick, since Ronaldo is using his own talents to make money which the fans voluntarily gave to him.However, in some(prenominal) philosophers eyes, this would be seen as unfair is Ronaldo was allowed to keep all, or even any, of that money. Be that as it may, Nozick stated that people were ends in themselves and any attempt to use them in ways they dont agree to = even for some greater good would violate their liberty. Such as example would be taxation. People, thus, have a right to own what they produce conservatives would even argue that property becomes part of a persons personality.The only constraints Nozick places on property is that it should be justly acquired (not stolen or gained via the forced advertize of some others), justly transferred (fair price given not cheated or robbed), and the rectification of injustice (giving back property that was stolen or otherwise unjustly taken). If one were to accept N ozicks view, the result would be a society with huge economic inequalities. There is also the problem with individuals, through no shortcoming of their own, not being able to support themselves.Relying on philanthropy and personal savings that one has been able to save doesnt seem just oddly if one is a pauper and kept at the mercy of the bourgeoisie. In this ace a worker may accept a wage cut, but how a lot true liberty do they have in making this decision? It could be argued in a society which has no safety net upbeat system, actually little. Nozick goes onto state that we have self-ownership of the things we create. This would therefore suggest that the proletariat working in factories, and the like, would have a right to what they produce since they have mixed their labour with it.But in a capitalist society, which Nozick supports, this would be, and is, the case. There therefore seems to be a rule for some and another for others with Nozicks idea of self-ownership, which seriously undermines the authenticity of his justice. Furthermore, history shows us that a great deal of initial scholarship of property was unjust based on theft, sla truly and colonisation. All property that derives from unjust acquisition being unjustly held, one does not have the right to transfer said property, nor does the recipient have the right to what they are receiving.It would, moreover, prove very difficult, if not impossible, to rectify the injustice of the past, as Nozick thinks one should do, since we have no way of establishing what belongs to who in many cases. The conclusion we are forced to draw is that Nozicks theory has no application if we cannot start from a just beginning. Marx, on the other hand, focused on the plight of the proletariat, who, having nothing but their labours to sell are exploited by the bourgeoisie who are in turn protected by the state which keeps private property legal allowing a small make out of individuals to own the commanding heig hts or means of production.In such circumstances people cannot make use of their right to self-ownership as Nozick claims, for they are creating items for the profit of the bourgeois and not themselves. Marx therefor believed in a needs based theory of justice. This would entail the abolition of private property and see that every man, muliebrity and child gets what they need and gives what they can. The principle can be summed up as thus, from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs. Property does, however, seem to come course to human beings with philosophers such as John Locke claiming it is a Natural Right.When one takes the liberal view that we are rational number, self-seeking, egotistical beings, it only seems right that the acquisition of property should follow. It is also true that the large percentages of the states in the world are run this way. Though this on its own cannot justify private property, it does heavily suggest that there go out alw ays be a place for private property no matter what your vison of the prefect society is. Furthermore, one could argue that private property offers the allure of material success that motivates people to work.Even if one does not buy this argument, Rawls claimed that injustice in the distribution of property in society can work to the advantage to the poorest in society via a welfare state etc. Rawls invented the veil of ignorance to prove in the original position what justice should be. As virtue of us, humans, being free rational beings, we would consent to a free market state, but only as long as rights were guaranteed and protection for the poor put in place. For the freedom to starve is no freedom at all.We would agree to these conditions for human life, since we would not know, in theory, what our race, creed, religion, talents, opinions or health would be in advance. In this sense it is reasonable to assume that we are rational egotistical beings, for it makes sense, and is i n our own self-interest, to want these conditions. As for the capitalist free market aspect, wealth knowledgeability can be the only means by which the poorest in society can benefit via the state taxing the rich and redistributing some of it to the poor. In this hypothetical situation we would have legal and foundational equality, as well as equality of opportunity.No one should be disadvantaged by the outcome of indispensable chance, the contingency of circumstances or choice of principles. In this light, the racist and the liberal would both be permitted to criticise each other prevented from physically harming each other and neither allowed to alter or remove foundational equality from the constitution. Importantly, Rawls thinks that once a certain level of martial wealth has been acquired (? 26,000 a year in the UK), then we would value such legal and foundational rights more as well as basic liberties such as freedom of speech and association.Thus liberty will be preferred t o less liberty, but greater wealth. This leads to Rawls difference principle, that we would choose to maximise the minimum level of welfare. This would create a society with a smaller gap between the rich and the poor, but also a smaller average wealth. One can object to this and state that it makes more sense to maximise the average level of wealth, especially if there is equality of opportunity meaning that one can improve oneself. However, one could imagine a society which is less prosperous, but more just something based alone the lines of Marxs desert theory.Conversely, however, justice, in terms of the distribution of property, actually comes from prosperity and wealth creation gained and produced by some, so that others can benefit from the resulting taxation of said people. In conclusion, only Rawls can offer a theory of justice that appears sensible to the rational egotistical being as well as avoiding the un-pragmatic approaches of Marx and Nozick. Even is one does not acc ept Rawls theory of justice for one may be very rich and have lots of land then at least it shows one what justice should look like.