A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Compromises and Fairness
Authors: Räikkä Juha
Publisher: Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Publication year: 2024
Journal: Etikk i praksis
Volume: 18
Issue: 1
First page : 21
Last page: 31
ISSN: 1890-3991
eISSN: 1890-4009
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5324/eip.v18i1.5830
Web address : https://doi.org/10.5324/eip.v18i1.5830
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/454797583
Many philosophers have pointed out that a compromise that is fair in one sense can be unfair in another. In this paper, I will briefly introduce different ways in which compromises can be “fair” and then analyze them. In particular, I compare the importance of what I call (a) split-the-difference fairness and (b) end-state fairness. I will defend split-the-difference fairness against an important objection—that a person’s false belief about her fair share does not change what her fair share actually is. To allow such a notion would be rather like allowing her false belief to alter what is actually true. Nevertheless, I aim to provide support for the idea that sometimes it may make sense to consider people’s actual beliefs, even if they are false. However, I do not take a strong position on the question of what the most important sense of fairness is with regard to compromises.
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