A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Compromises and Fairness




AuthorsRäikkä Juha

PublisherNorwegian University of Science and Technology

Publication year2024

JournalEtikk i praksis

Volume18

Issue1

First page 21

Last page31

ISSN1890-3991

eISSN1890-4009

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.5324/eip.v18i1.5830

Web address https://doi.org/10.5324/eip.v18i1.5830

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/454797583


Abstract

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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Last updated on 2025-26-03 at 15:33