JUSTICE OR FAIRNESS APPROACH

1. JUSTICE ORFAIRNESSAPPROACH Presented by Brad, Nina, and Tonya Intro to Ethics T/1:30

2. Fairness or Justice Approach states: “ Treat all people equally, or if unequally, than fairly based on some standard that is defensible.”

3. Fairness requires consistency in the way people are treated. • Focuses on how fairly or unfairly our actions distribute benefits and burdens among the members of a group.

4. The fairness or justice approach to ethics has its roots in the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle

5. Aristotle stated, “Equals should be treated equally, and unequals unequally.”

6. John Rawls • Political philosopher of the 20th Century • Wrote many influential articles in the 50’s and 60’s • “We are both rational and reasonable”

7. “A Theory of Justice” by John Rawls Rawls makes clear that the guaranteed freedom of each and every individual is essential to the establishment of a just society.

8. Rawls believed the principles of justice apply to the "basic structure" of fundamental social institutions (courts, markets, the constitution, etc) • Rawls imagined people in the state of nature, that is, before a society is formed

9. Criticism Who has the right to say what is justified or fair? Martha C. Nussbaum author of “Frontiers of Justice,” criticizes Rawls theory because he does not cater to the needs of disabled people

10. She also said that, “Rawls confines himself to articulating principles of justice to domestic society”.

11. Application to Health Care

13. Adding Justice to the Debate • Tends to focus on the uninsured rather than healthcare itself • The continuing increase in cost of healthcare to the increasing uninsured

14. Must attend to the basic medical needs to all no matter of insurance • Must accommodate the unemployed as well as the employed

15. REVIEW QUESTIONS • Does this theory protect the moral rights of all individuals? • Are we a just and fair society? • Is justice a cause or consequence of social motives?