Normative Theories of Social Welfare

DQ 1 & DQ 2 Normative Theories of Social Welfare

Need Help with these 2 homework questions. Answers need to be 150-200 words each and one current reference used as well

1. John Rawls, one of the most influential liberal theorists of the twentieth century, argues that economic inequalities ought to be arranged such that they offer the greatest to the least advantaged in society. How does Rawls’s “justice as fairness” achieve that outcome? How is the “maximin” principle morally justified? Should public officials be obliged to consider how policies affect those who are the least well-off in society? Explain.

2. In contrast to John Rawls, Robert Nozick contends that the proper role of government is not to meddle with the distribution of resources so as to produce a “fair” distribution. Instead, the right to self-ownership and the right to hold property, free of government intervention, are paramount. What does Nozick mean by self-ownership and the right to property? How does Nozick’s conception of fairness differ from Rawls’s?

Answer preview

Under his theory ‘justice as fairness,’ Rawls explains the difference principle, which regulates inequalities. He explains that inequalities are permissible if they work to the advantage of the worst off in society. Wealth or resources should diffuse upward, ensuring that the neediest have all they need before the resources reach the wealthier in society. The maximin principle is considered moral because its main purpose is to safeguard all groups’ needs in society, especially the needy. According to Farrelly (2020), the maximin principle promotes the maximization of the minimum outcome. When applied, it insists on the equal distribution of goods and a smooth flow of resources or benefits to all from the productive labors of the most talented in society. I think that public officials must understand all group’s or people’s responses. Policies that infringe on or cause adverse effects on the lower class are often rejected by the public leading to unsustainability (Farrelly, 2020). Understanding and addressing the lower class’s needs can lead to better results and effectiveness in policymaking and implementation.

(550words)

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