display all the ideas for this combination of philosophers
2 ideas
23164 | Modern justice is seen as equality, apart from modest extra rewards for exceptional desert [Russell] |
Full Idea: Justice has come to be interpreted as equality, except where exceptional merit is thought to deserve an exceptional but still moderate reward. | |
From: Bertrand Russell (Authority and the Individual [1949], 5) | |
A reaction: Kekes rebels against this modern distortion of justice, which traditionally means everyone getting what they deserve - good or bad. The modern egalitarian view seems to be a rebellion against the harsh interpretation of the older view. |
21744 | Legally curbing people's desires is inferior to improving their desires [Russell] |
Full Idea: To force a man to curb his desires, as we do by the criminal law, is not nearly so satisfactory as to cause him genuinely to feel the desires which promote socially harmonious conduct. | |
From: Bertrand Russell (An Outline of Philosophy [1927], Ch 22) | |
A reaction: It is hard to disagree, but improving the desires of selfish and even vicious people is a rather challenging task. |