Shue

Question 1

Issues addressed in Shue

Answer 1

1. Pollution (esp greenhouse gasses) are costs that have benefited DCs and burdened LDCs
2. How to fairly clean up the mess?
3. Justice problem w/in human ethics.

Question 2

Complete egalitarianism

Answer 2

all good things ought to be shared equally

Question 3

Which values does shue think should be distributed equally?

Answer 3

Dignity and Respect (the key moral value)

Question 4

Equal dignity is aligned with

Answer 4

being treated fairly.

Question 5

NOTE:

Answer 5

economical efficiency or maximal output do not always coincide with fairness

Question 6

What are the justifications for imposing unequal burdens on DCs?

Answer 6

1. The burden=the cost of reducing emissions/pollution

2. Assume inequality between developed and developing nations (P. 38).

Question 7

Assume inequality between developed and developing nations (P. 38).

Answer 7

1. Reduce inequality due to unfair advantages
2. Prevent those at the bottom from suffering from additional inequality now and into the future.
3. Protect those on the bottom from becoming worse than what is already intolerably low

Question 8

What does Shue mostly talk about?

Answer 8

the burden of reducing pollution because we need to pollute to develop economically

Question 9

One example of burden of climate change

Answer 9

extreme weather events

Question 10

Unequal burdens goal

Answer 10

restoration of equality by assigning greater burdens to the advantaged (not just rewarding good behavior)

Question 11

Shue Principle 1

Answer 11

• A has taken advantage of B
• B has not consented
• A should take on more burdens than B until equality has been restored
• what kind of moral principle is this (not polluter pays)

Question 12

Possible objections to Principle 1

Answer 12

1. LDC’s have benefited from enrichment of DC’s (medicine and technology)
2. The environmental damage was unintentional (punishment different than responsibility)
3. The damage was not done by current members of DC’s

Question 13

The damage done was not by current members of DC’s

Answer 13

• but DC’s currently enjoy benefits from past

- Different life prospects

Question 14

Principle 2: Greater ability to pay

Answer 14

• if A and B face some common trouble, and
  1. A has more resources than B, then
  2. A should contribute more to fixing the trouble

Question 15

Why are flat rates “misleadingly” fair?

Answer 15

the same proportion of tax on people with different incomes can have very different results

Question 16

Objections to progressive rates

Answer 16

progressive rates of contribution create disincentive effects

Question 17

3 replies to progressive rates

Answer 17

1. fairness different than incentives
2. limitless growth? not all growth is sustainable
3. how much incentive is enough

Question 18

Principle 3: guaranteed minimum

Answer 18

If:
1. A has more than enough for a decent life,
2. B does not have an adequate minimum and,
3. the total resource base is more than enough for everyone and,
4. A can still have more resources than B after guaranteeing B a basic minimum,
Then:
- it is not fair to prevent B from attaining at least an adequate minimum

Question 19

Objection of principle 3: Guaranteed minimum

Answer 19

1. over-population is objection

2. are obligations to help limited by country borders

Question 20

Helping to maintain minimum: weak

Answer 20

don’t interfere with another country’s ability to maintain minimum

Question 21

Helping to maintain minimum: strong

Answer 21

advantaged should provide assistance across borders

Question 22

weak implies

Answer 22

don’t interfere with LDCs in their quest for minimum

- if you DCs reject doing more, don’t ask LDCs for their help