If you had to choose just one simple definition of justice, which would it be?
Being fair to everyone equally
Being fair to people who most deserve it
Being fair to people who most have a right to it
Being fair to people who most need it
Q1 Please say what you mean by 'fairness':
Fairness is a normative subject that denotes that it entails the verdicts concerning what is good and bad. Consequently, via fair, we can as well embrace the thoughts of just, equality, good, principled, or ethical, and the instruments of how we accomplish this state. I am reminiscent of the subsequent predicament; one has two kids, and an appetizing ice cream cake lies before them. The chore is how to split it, so that there is not a brawl over who obtains the chubby half.
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The philosopher John Rawls came up with a famous thought experiment. In it you have to imagine you are not yet born but are able to create the rules for the society you will be born into.
Rawls said: ".... no one knows his place in society, his class position or social status, nor does anyone know his fortune in the distribution of natural assets and abilities, his intelligence, strength, and the like.... (you have to choose) the principles of justice behind a veil of ignorance...."
At the next you are going to be able to begin to make this choice for
How important are each of these options?
- Essential
- Good idea
- Bad idea
- Definitely not
Everyone being free to make as much wealth as they can
Everyone being protected by government
Government making the richest people pay to help the poorest
People encouraging the poorest people to help themselves
Government not supporting people who do not help themselves
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Now some really practical choices..... You have to choose some basic social rules to underpin the society you are going to be born into.
Will you gamble that you will be born as a rich, healthy person; or will you play safe on the grounds that you may be poor or sick or less clever than most people. It is up to you!
Behind my veil of ignorance, this is what I choose for the society I will live in....
- Essential
- Good idea
- Bad idea
- Definitely not
Compulsory taxation to pay for all social services, including health care
Compulsory state education for all children
Compulsory taxation to pay for all military services for my nation
Compulsory taxation to support people who are unemployed, homeless, or otherwise not well off
Low taxation or even no taxation to so that those who have earnt it can choose how to spend their wealth
No state provision for social services, allowing choice for private insurance
Privately funded prisons, police and military
Democracy where citizens vote every few years for MPs to represent them
Participatory democracy where private citizens can vote on any issue that affects them without politicians representing them
Q2 Why did you choose these options?
Finally, please rank the following patients in order of priority. Who should be treated first and who last, if resources are scarce?
Please read their story below then go to the final page to rank them.
1) Daniel is 3 years old. Daniel has cancer with a 50/50 chance of survival. There is a new drug which has been partially tested and has been successful in 50% of cases so far.
2) Steve is 18. He is the victim of a water skiing accident. As a result, he has severe facial scarring and psychological problems as a result. Plastic surgery would correct the scarring.
3) Marinder is 63 years old and has been waiting for a hip replacement for 16 months. Soon she will not be able to live alone. Her son lives 200 miles away. The hip replacement would allow her to live independently.
4) Joanne is 42 years old and has no dependents. She has just been diagnosed as HIV positive as a result of drug taking. She no longer takes drugs. Drug treatment is available which is 75% effective, and could increase her life expectancy and minimise symptoms.
This is how I would prioritise these people.
- Top priority
- Second
- Third
- Lowest priority
Daniel
Steve
Marinda
Joanne
Q3 Please tell us why?
Daniel is 3 years old, he has a lot to live for. Although the disease is terminal, there is a fifty percent chance he could survive. It is only fair for him to be given the first priority. For Marinder, although she is old, she is human and still independent. If given the hip job she could still remain independent and not be a burden to his son. is 63 years old and has been waiting for a hip replacement for 16 months. Soon she will not be able to live alone. Her son lives 200 miles away. The hip replacement would allow her to live independently. Joanne has no dependants and as such, she only needs drugs to survive thus third priority and last is Steve. His condition is not life threatening.
Reflection
We all comprehend fairness at a very individual level. We recognize when we have not been treat fairly. Conversely, fairness denotes dissimilar things to dissimilar individuals, and our outlook of whether or not something is fair frequently relies on the situations. In short, the definition of fairness is diverse and can only be described upon looking and analysing actions related to fairness. In a survey conducted on applied mental health degree program, majority of the respondents concurred with a personal survey to state that being fair to everyone equally was the best description of justice. In the same survey, the respondents were asked to define fairness in their own terms and what was common was the use of equality and inclusion of all.
The respondents were then submitted to a series of options to rate in accordance with their importance. For example, they were asked if everyone being free to make as much wealth as they can was important. Majority said it was a good idea. The other questions included: Everyone being protected by government, the majority claimed it to be a good idea. However, most respondents voted the question on Government making the richest people pay to help the poorest as a bad idea. The other questions voted as a bad idea were the issue that Compulsory taxation to pay for all military services for the nation, No state provision for social services, allowing choice for private insurance, and Privately funded prisons, police and military. A question led to almost equal number of respondents both stating it is a good idea or not. It was the Participatory democracy where private citizens can vote on any issue that affects them without politicians representing them.
In conclusion, Fairness is a normative subject that denotes that it entails the verdicts concerning what is good and bad. Consequently, via fair, we can as well embrace the thoughts of just, equality, good, principled, or ethical, and the instruments of how we accomplish this state. I am reminiscent of the subsequent predicament; one has two kids, and an appetizing ice cream cake lies before them. The chore is how to split it, so that there is not a brawl over who obtains the chubby half.
