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Single Idea 3278

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 4. Original Position / c. Difference principle ]

Full Idea

What makes a system egalitarian is the priority it gives to the claims of those whose overall life prospects put them at the bottom.

Gist of Idea

An egalitarian system must give priority to those with the worst prospects in life

Source

Thomas Nagel (Equality [1977], §6)

Book Ref

Nagel,Thomas: 'Mortal Questions' [CUP 1981], p.118

The 3 ideas with the same theme [bias towards equality when designing a society]:

18631 All desirable social features should be equal, unless inequality favours the disadvantaged [Rawls]
3278 An egalitarian system must give priority to those with the worst prospects in life [Nagel]
18638 The difference principles says we must subsidise the costs of other people's choices [Kymlicka]