Chelsea Zerbe

Ways of Knowing 12:30-1:45

10/08/15
Distributive Justice
This reading was a little hard to wrap my head around, but I feel I agree more with what
Rescher says about justice than Plato. Platos philosophy on justice seemed kind of narcissistic
while Reschers seems like it is more selfless but inspired by effort. One of the canons I feel is a
good definition of justice is the Canon of Equality. This is the canon where all people are treated
equally. There is no way that all people are equal in the fact that there are people with different
types of disabilities, numerous cultural upbringings, different financial status etc. but if
hypothetically everyone was equal, then everyone would receive the same justice that they put
out.
Another canon I think has a good take on justice is the Canon of Ability and/or Achievement.
This canon has a lot to do with the natural ability and potentiality people have within themselves.
I feel this has a close tie to the Canon of Effort. I think all people have something inside them
that can make them do great things and it is unique to each and every person. It is whether this
person has the motivation to put forth the effort to put this special something to work. A problem
with this though is that people who have this special something inside of them may not always
get to discover they have it and put it to use. Its like the privileged and well-off have more of an
opportunity to discover this than someone who has to fight for everything they have. Im sure
there are people out there that would love to contribute to the greater good but are not able to due
to lack of resources. Is that justice? But also, I feel that a lot of privileged people dont put forth
the effort in finding these abilities that could be used for the greater good. Is that justice? Is it just

to have all the resources you need to be everything you can be but you neither put forth the effort
or even care enough to do so? I feel that is not just.
The only thing I could think about while I was reading the Canon of Productivity was why do
the same job if you know you cant do the job equally?. This may be harsh to think, and I dont
mean it to be, but find something that is in your ability and do great at that. Why should the
person that can work twice as hard make the same as someone who knows they cant do the
same? That is not just. Im not saying everyone has to work the same doing the exact same thing,
thats why each person needs the ability to discover what they can contribute to society. For
example, dont try to be a construction worker when you know you cant lift more than ten
pounds and expect equal treatment of someone who is actually fit for the job. That is an injustice
that happens all too often the world.
In general, I think Rescher seven principles of distributive justice come close to how justice
can be for humanity. His philosophy seems to rely heavily on what you can contribute to society
and that determines what is and what isnt just. People hold a lot of the worlds justice within
themselves and it is up to them whether or not they use it to either benefit themselves or others.