UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO the Ethics of Distribution a Dissertation Submitted in Partial Satisfaction of the Requirem
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO The Ethics of Distribution A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy by Theron Pummer Committee in charge: Professor Richard Arneson, Co-Chair Professor David Brink, Co-Chair Professor Dana Nelkin Professor David Schkade Professor Joel Sobel 2013 Copyright Theron Pummer, 2013 All rights reserved. The Dissertation of Theron Pummer is approved, and it is acceptable in quality and form for publication on microfilm and electronically: Co-Chair Co-Chair University of California, San Diego 2013 iii DEDICATION This dissertation has benefited tremendously from feedback I have received from many friends, colleagues, and mentors. I therefore dedicate it to the many kind people listed in the Acknowledgements. iv EPIGRAPH …[W]hen we are choosing between two acts or policies, one relevant fact is how great the resulting benefits will be. For Utilitarians, that is all that matters. On their view, we should always aim for the greatest sum of benefits. But, for Egalitarians, it also matters how well off the beneficiaries would be. We should sometimes choose a smaller sum of benefits, for the sake of a better distribution. How can we make a distribution better? Some say: by aiming for equality between different people. Others say: by giving priority to those who are worse off. As we shall see, these are different ideas. Should we accept these ideas? Does equality matter? If so, when and why? What kind of priority, if any, should we give to those who are worse off? These are difficult questions, but their subject matter is, in a way, simple.
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