Question

Complete the following table by selecting the redistributive philosophy that matches each statement.

Statement
Utilitarianism
Libertarianism
Liberalism
The government should choose policies to maximize the total utility of everyone in society.
The government should punish crimes and enforce voluntary agreements, but not redistribute income.
The government should choose policies deemed to be just, as evaluated by an impartial observer behind a "veil of ignorance."
Suppose that Valerie believes that the government should aim to raise the welfare of the poorest people in society, because if we all started in the exact same position in life and then created rules and laws to obey as a society, people would be concerned about ending up at the bottom of the income distribution.
Which redistributive philosophy is consistent with Valerie's view?
Liberalism
Libertarianism
Utilitarianism

Answer 1

Utilitarianism is the redistributive philosophy that aligns with Valerie's view.

Step-by-step explanation:

The redistributive philosophy that aligns with Valerie's view is Utilitarianism.

Utilitarianism is the belief that the government should choose policies to maximize the total utility of everyone in society. In Valerie's view, the government should aim to raise the welfare of the poorest people in society, which aligns with the goal of maximizing human happiness and well-being.

Utilitarianism emphasizes the idea of maximizing overall happiness and welfare, and it considers the well-being of the least advantaged members of society. This philosophy supports the redistribution of income to improve the welfare of those who are in the bottom of the income distribution.