Question

Ethicist: A society is just when, and only when, first, each person has an equal right to basic liberties, and second, inequalities in the distribution of income and wealth are not tolerated unless these inequalities are to everyone’s advantage and are attached to jobs open to everyone.

Which one of the following judgments most closely conforms to the principle described above?


(A) Society S guarantees everyone equal right to basic liberties, while allowing inequalities in the distribution of income and wealth that are to the advantage of everyone. Further, the jobs to which these inequalities are attached are open to most people. Thus, society S is just.

(B) Society S gives everyone an equal right to basic liberties, but at the expense of creating inequalities in the distribution of income and wealth. Thus, society S is not just.

(C) Society S allows inequalities in the distribution of income and wealth, although everyone benefits, and these inequalities are attached to jobs that are open to everyone. Thus, society S is just.

(D) Society S distributes income and wealth to everyone equally, but at the expense of creating inequalities in the right to basic liberties. Thus, society S is not just.

(E) Society S gives everyone an equal right to basic liberties, and although there is an inequality in the distribution of income and wealth, the jobs, to which these inequalities are attached, are open to all. Thus, society S is just.

Answer 1

The principle described in the question is closely aligned with the theory of justice proposed by John Rawls, a prominent ethicist. Option E is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The principle described in the question is closely aligned with the theory of justice proposed by John Rawls, a prominent ethicist. According to Rawls, a just society is one where each person has an equal right to basic liberties and inequalities in the distribution of income and wealth are tolerated only if they benefit everyone and are attached to jobs open to all. Based on this principle, option (E) most closely conforms to Rawls' theory as it indicates that everyone has an equal right to basic liberties, there is an inequality in the distribution of income and wealth, but these inequalities are attached to jobs that are open to all.