Logical Reasoning

PT101 · S3 · Q24 Ethicist: A society is just when

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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.

Principle

The word "when" (like if) is a sufficient indicator, meaning we put that idea on the LEFT side of the arrow, whereas the idea "only when" (like only if) is a necessary indicator, meaning we put that idea on the RIGHT side of the arrow.

If we have "when and only when" then we're getting a bi-conditional, because we're saying that an idea belongs on the left and the right side of the arrow.

But an even simpler way to think about bi-conditionals is that they're just either / ors

24.

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

  1. Society S guarantees everyone an

    Weak #2 Match: open to most

    This answer is super close. It establishes #1 (equal right to basic liberties) but falls just short of #2 because it says the jobs are open to "most people", but the principle says that the inequalities should be attached to jobs "open to everyone".

    14% picked this

  2. Society S gives everyone an

    Unclear #2

    This answer is trying to say that a society is unjust because it fails the 2nd condition, but all it's telling us is that inequalities exist. The 2nd condition is potentially okay with inequalities existing and being tolerated, as long as they're to everyone's advantage and attached to jobs open to everyone. So until we know that Society S's inequalities aren't connected to everyone's benefit / jobs, we can't be sure society S is unjust.

    14% picked this

  3. Society S allows inequalities in

    Missing #1

    In order to prove that it's just, we need to establish two things, and this one only establishes the 2nd. We need to know that Society 2 gives everyone an equal right to basic liberties.

    7% picked this

  4. Correct

    Society S distributes income and

    Why this is right

    To prove not-just, we only need to establish that the 1st or the 2nd thing is not happening. This answer establishes that society S does not give equal right to basic liberties. There are inequalities in the right to basic liberties.

    Skill tested: Principle-Conform · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    42% picked this

  5. Society S gives everyone an

    Unclear #2

    This answer is trying to prove Just, so we need to establish both of the 2 criteria. They're good on #1 - equal right to basic liberties Good on #2 - inequalities are tolerated because the "inequalities are to everyone's advantage and are attached to jobs open to everyone". This answer choice doesn't establish that "these inequalities are to everyone's advantage".

    23% picked this

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