CHAPTER 8: Who Deserves What?

Utilitarianism: The doctrine that actions are right if they are useful or for the benefit of a majority.

Justice, Telos, Honor

Justice

Is teleological. Inquiring to figure out the purpose, end, or essential nature.

Is honorific. Reason or argue about what virtues it should honor and reward.

Teleological Thinking

A reasoning to the question "Who deserves what?"

In the ancient world, it was more prevalent than it is today. Before the advent of modern science, to understand nature, and our place in it, was to grasp its purpose, its essential meaning.

"Fit" has nothing to do with a person to be a slave.

Examples of teleological thinking

Who should the Stradivarius violin be sold to?

Pooh's childlike line of thought about why bees make honey.

Tennis Courts and the thinking that excellent players can make the best use of it instead of mediocre players.

Telos

Telos of a University?

Promoting scholarly excellence versus to be come a leader in a diverse society

The founders of the university determine telos

Aristotle believes Screen Shot 2021-07-04 at 12.56.40 PM

Their essential of nature is not fixed once and for all, but neither is it simply a matter of opinion

Telos of politics?

How should political authority be distributed? - Equally?

Aristotle believes all theories of distributive justice discriminate

People choose to vote, so that at any given moment they can pursue purpose and end

Aristotle thinks the purpose of politics should be

To form good citizens and to cultivate good character

Deliberate about the common good

Acquire practical judgment

Share in self-government

Care fore the fate of the community as a whole

Learning how to live a good life

Why is participating in politics somehow essential to living a good life?

The answer lies in our nature

Language is the medium through which we discern and deliberate about the good

"The man who is isolated - who is unable to share in the benefits of political association, or has no need to share because he is already self-sufficient - is no part of the polis, and must therefore be either a beast or a god."

Justice by Michael Sandel Screen Shot 2021-07-04 at 12.25.15 PM

Michael Sandel is a American political philosopher and professor at Harvard University Law School

Philosopher Michael Sandel describes theories of justice that question what the right thing to do is.

Moral dilemmas are presented in order to challenge our stances on democracy, equality, justice, and citizenship.

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Participation in politics allow “good habits, form good character, and set us on the way to civic virtue”

“the life of the citizen enables us to exercise capacities for deliberation and practical wisdom that would otherwise lie dormant." It Is important to note that citizens were exclusive to white men

Casey Martin's Golf Cart

Asked the PGA to use a golf cart during tournaments

Justice Antonin Scalia

Casey Martin

A professional Golfer with a bad leg

PGA rejected his request

Went to the Supreme Court and they ruled in favor of golf carts

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Thought that adding Golf Carts to the game eliminated the unfair advantage that may be presented.

Debates about justice and rights are often unavoidable. Debates about the purpose of social institutions, the goods they allocate, and the virtues they honor and reward.