Calibration dilemmas in the ethics of distribution

Jacob M. Nebel, H. Orri Stefánsson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper presents a new kind of problem in the ethics of distribution. The problem takes the form of several 'calibration dilemmas', in which intuitively reasonable aversion to small-stakes inequalities requires leading theories of distribution to recommend intuitively unreasonable aversion to large-stakes inequalities. We first lay out a series of such dilemmas for prioritarian theories. We then consider a widely endorsed family of egalitarian views and show that they are subject to even more forceful calibration dilemmas than prioritarian theories. Finally, we show that our results challenge common utilitarian accounts of the badness of inequalities in resources.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)67-98
Number of pages32
JournalEconomics and Philosophy
Volume39
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 9 2023
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Philosophy
  • Economics and Econometrics

Keywords

  • Equality
  • calibration
  • egalitarianism
  • prioritarianism
  • utilitarianism

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