Ideas from 'The Mirage of Social Justice' by F.A. Hayek [1976], by Theme Structure

green numbers give full details    |     back to texts     |     unexpand this idea


25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 1. Basis of justice
'Social justice' is a confused idea, and inequalities need no justification
                        Full Idea: Hayek thinks the whole idea of social justice involves a philosophical mistake, so that inequality doesn't really need justification in the first place.
                        From: report of F.A. Hayek (The Mirage of Social Justice [1976]) by Adam Swift - Political Philosophy (3rd ed) 1 'Conc'
                        A reaction: It is certainly hard to justify the claim that the state of nature involves equality, making its disturbance in need of justification. But surely inequalities in government policy (such as differential income tax) need justification?