Distributive Justice and Disability: Utilitarianism against Egalitarianism

Mark S. Stein

Published by Yale University Press 2008

Distributive Justice and Disability

Utilitarianism against Egalitarianism

Mark S. Stein

https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300128253

Overview
Contents

About this book

Theories of distributive justice are most severely tested in the area of disability. In this book, Mark Stein argues that utilitarianism performs better than egalitarian theories in this area: whereas egalitarian theories help the disabled either too little or too much, utilitarianism achieves the proper balance by placing resources where they will do the most good.
Stein offers what may be the broadest critique of egalitarian theory from a utilitarian perspective. He addresses the work of egalitarian theorists John Rawls, Ronald Dworkin, Amartya Sen, Bruce Ackerman, Martha Nussbaum, Norman Daniels, Philippe Van Parijs, and others. Stein claims that egalitarians are often driven to borrow elements of utilitarianism in order to make their theories at all plausible.
The book concludes with an acknowledgment that both utilitarians and egalitarians face problems in the distribution of life-saving medical resources. Stein advocates a version of utilitarianism that would distribute life-saving resources based on life expectancy, not quality of life. Egalitarian theories, he argues, ignore life expectancy and so are again found wanting.
Distributive Justice and Disability is a powerful and engaging book that helps to reframe the debate between egalitarian and utilitarian thinkers.

Author / Editor information

Mark S. Stein is academic fellow at the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics, Harvard Law School.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	ix
I. Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
II. Intuitionist Theory and Interpersonal Comparisons Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	11
III. Disability and Welfare Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	23
IV. Utilitarianism and Distribution to the Disabled Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	33
V. Egalitarianism and Distribution to the Disabled Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	55
VI. Rawls Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	102
VII. Dworkin Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	119
VIII. Ackerman Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	158
IX. Welfarism Weighted or Unweighted? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	180
X. Intuition about Aggregation Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	207
XI. Distribution of Life Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	222
XII. Conclusion: Philosophy and Policy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	266
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	273
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	301

Language: English
Publisher: Yale University Press
Pages
- Main content: 316
Illustrations
- Other: 0

eBook

Published: October 1, 2008
ISBN: 9780300128253