Utilitarianism and Luck
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4298199 |
|---|---|
| Authors | J Persky (0000-0003-2183-9019, Institute for Women's Policy Research, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2013 |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 287-309 |
| Publication date | 2013-06-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | History of Political Economy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0018-2702 • E-ISSN: 1527-1919 |
| Publisher | Duke University Press (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1215/00182702-2082712 |
| OpenAlex | W2072150449 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 20 |
The study of luck in moral and political philosophy has generated two camps: the ``luck egalitarians,'' who see justice as demanding aggressive efforts to reduce inequalities produced by luck broadly conceived, and the advocates of ``democratic equality,'' who emphasize traditional liberal political values. Most of this literature has been ahistorical and hostile to utilitarianism. This essay aims at repositioning the luck debates in the context of John Stuart Mill's oft maligned essay, Utilitarianism. There, Mill posits that the historical progress of justice works against all types of social expediency, thus reducing the role of luck in human affairs. Over time, justice requires a move from ``democratic equality'' to the achievement of ``luck egalitarianism.'' Rather than viewing these as competing approaches to justice, this reading of Mill views them as succeeding stages in the conquest of poverty and the historical achievement of justice. These themes in Utilitarianism also go far toward reconciling that essay with Mill's utilitarian roots
Context (archaeology · Democracy · Economic Justice · Economics · Egalitarianism · Environmental ethics · Epistemology · Law and economics · Luck · Mill · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Sociology · Utilitarianism · American Constitutional Law and Politics · History · Law · Philosophy · Political Philosophy and Ethics · Political Theory and Influence
The life and times of liberal democracy
What Is the Point of Equality?
A Theory of Justice
Rawls, Responsibility, and Distributive Justice
Rescuing Justice and Equality
Moral Luck
Why Not Socialism
The Improvement of Mankind
Auguste Comte and Positivism
A Future for Socialism
J. S. Mill's Conception of Utility
Rawls's Thin (Millean) Defense of Private Property
The Liberal Self
Happiness, Justice, and Freedom
Rawls and Left Criticism
More Merciful and Not Less Effective
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,5 |
| Citation span | 2022 - 2026 (5) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |