After reading chapter 5 and viewing the documentary The True Cost, compose an analysis of the justice of the fast fashion industry.
Stu Ggx
honest_work_chapter_5.pptxHonest Work
Chapter 5: Who Gets What and Why?
Fairness and Justice
First Paper Assignment
From the course site:
After reading chapter 5 and viewing the documentary The True Cost, compose an analysis of the justice of the fast fashion industry. Use at least two readings from chapter 5.
Restrict your analysis to a maximum of three pages (typed, double-spaced). Aim for depth over length. Do not waste time with unnecessary introductory or concluding formalities. Instead, compose a succinct and penetrating analysis.
Writing for Philosophy Assignments
Generally:
Answer questions, don't ask them. The point of a philosophy assignment is to argue for a position.
Don't use slang or colloquialisms. Also, know the meanings of the words you use. An idea which is simply written and clear is preferable to one which tries to use big words and fails.
Don't make big general statements you aren't prepared to defend. "There are a lot of different theories of justice out there." These kinds of statements are either uninformative or indefensible (or both). Avoid ambiguous or sweeping statements in general.
Use quotations sparingly. When you do use quotes, cite correctly using an appropriate format.
Cut out the fluff. Write for impact, not length. Longer is not necessarily better. Your reader should not have to search for the main points of your argument. On the other hand, don’t expect to explain complex philosophical ideas in just a few sentences. Make sure your meaning is clear and your thoughts well organized.
Provide strong arguments:
A philosophy assignment is not a book report. You should be arguing for the position. Provide clear, concise, and coherent reasons for your position. Make sure your conclusion follows from your reasons.
Do not appeal to authority. Quotes should be used to support your argument. Do not rely solely on religious, political, or social bodies of belief. These may provide some evidence to support your position, but remember not everyone will agree these principles. Try to provide reasonable evidence by which someone with different beliefs may be swayed. Avoid logical fallacies.
Know your opposition. Confronting an opposing argument and providing evidence against it can be part of an effective paper. However, remember you are attacking positions, not people.
Philosophy is not about opinions or feelings. Philosophy is about making arguments. The distinction may not be clear to you at first, but it is an important distinction. Opinions are statements that generally require no evidence. Arguments are used to advance a position, and require supporting evidence.
“Ring of Gyges” Plato
Glaucon argues that we do not act morally (or justly) for any reason other than fear of punishment
He goes on to say that the perfectly unjust life might be more satisfying than the perfectly just life
“Ring of Gyges” Plato
Story of the ring meant to show (eventually) that justice is desirable for its own sake
Justice is not a matter of reward or punishment, but whether our souls and the state are balanced for optimal health
“On Human Exchange and Human Difference” Adam Smith
Why does Smith believe that “self-love” is a good thing?
Why does Smith discuss the differences in people’s talents? Why is it important that the difference in talents is not so large as we often suppose?
“On Human Exchange and Human Difference” Adam Smith
Self-love serves important purposes
By appeal, we can work together for mutual benefit
We share general talents necessary for human survival
In pursuing these common goals, we use our individual talents, causing us to be of good use to one another
The highest good for all will result if each individual member of society is allowed to pursue her or his own idea of the good (without interfering with others), so that everyone may cultivate the talents particular to her or him
“A Latin Viewpoint: The Bentonville Menace” Latin Trade
What is the problem with Wal-Mart in Latin America?
Is economic justice more important than low prices? Should we be shopping at Wal-Mart?
“A Latin Viewpoint: The Bentonville Menace” Latin Trade
Counters the free market argument derived from Smith’s position
Free markets can result in the weak being exploited by the powerful
Some principle of social justice violated in order to deliver low prices
“Exploitation of Need” Joanne B. Ciulla
The existence of choice does not necessarily eliminate exploitation
Self-enslavement: a choice to sell yourself to others in order to avoid starvation, violence, etc.
“How much freedom and human dignity can an employed morally justify buying because someone is willing to sell it?” (198)
“Exploitation of Need” Joanne B. Ciulla
Monkey Labor
Logic of exploitation used to justify taking advantage of needy
Use of power to determine wants and needs of others
Wages for time and freedom
Workers compensated not for the product or service, but for time and loss of freedom
Lower-wage jobs associated with greater loss of freedom
“The idea of selling freedom often goes hand-in-hand with selling labor, especially when a person is in desperate need of a job and has little choice” (200)
“Justice as Fairness” John Rawls
The initial situation and veil of ignorance
What principles of justice would we choose if we did not know any of the following:
Place in society
Class position or social status
Natural talents, intelligence, disabilities, etc.
Psychological state or philosophical leanings
“Justice as Fairness” John Rawls
From the original position, the majority of rational, self-interested people would choose the following two principles:
Equal right to the most extensive basic liberty compatible with liberty for all
Inequalities should be arranged so that they are:
Reasonably expected to be to everyone’s advantage
Attached to positions and offices open to all
These principles of justice meant to compensate for the arbitrariness of nature and the contingencies of social circumstance
“Anarchy, State, and Utopia” Robert Nozick
Response to Rawls’ argument for justice as fairness
Nozick argues for justice as entitlement
Minimal state is the most needed in order to secure justice
Anything more than a minimal state violates individual rights
Redistribution by the state is a violation of entitlement theory
Entitlement theory
Principle of justice in acquisition
Principle of justice in transfer
“Rich and Poor” Peter Singer
Relative and absolute poverty
Relative poverty is poverty in relation to one’s neighbors (industrialized countries)
Absolute poverty is poverty by any standards
Obligation to Assist
Drowning child thought experiment
“If it is in our power to prevent something very bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral significance, we ought to do it” (216)
“A Capitalist Conception of Justice” Irving Kristol
Kristol argues capitalism does not require the creation of a common authority charged with redistributing wealth
A centralized power (like a government and a tax structure) not necessary to tell us who, when, and how to help others
“Social justice” designed to be incompatible with capitalism
Capitalism has its own justice with principles such as “equal opportunity leads to the bettering of everyone’s condition”
Human sympathy (Smith) in addition to economic considerations
“Justice Ruins the Market” Friedrich von Hayek
Argues that the attempt to impose “social justice” on a healthy marketplace will harm both the market and those whom the original action intended to help
In an unfettered market everyone knows the rules
“Social justice” means making rules to suit specific groups, so everyone cannot compete equally
Individual self-interest will usually result in what is in the general best interest, but self-interest of organized groups is not in the general interest
“The Winner-Take-All Game” Eduard Gracia
Example of how “market thinking” can interfere with the good of everyone
“Hollywood-style economics”
An economy in which reputation is everything
Our economy as “Hollywood-style”
Pressure for performance as stimulating in global competitive market, but also discounts long-term planning
Incentives for market-leaders to go after short-terms gains, ignoring long-terms implications, and ultimately hurting themselves in the end
Argues it is the organization’s duty to manage incentives to create the best balance of short-terms and long-terms incentives
“Comparable Worth: A Matter of Simple Justice” Gerald W. McEntee
Argument in defense of fairness in guaranteeing the equality of men’s and women’s earnings.
Because the labor of men and women is of “comparable worth,” they should have comparable pay
Addresses counter-arguments
Women’s more recent entry into workforce, etc.
Upset free market and require new laws
Dissimilar jobs
Costs too much
“The 1 Percent: How Lucky They Are” Greg Breining
The richest 1% owe their fabulous wealth to chance, according to a mathematical model by U of Minnesota
Capitalism inevitably puts wealth in the hands of a few
“If you play long enough, someone will end up with all the money” (232).
The superrich should give a lot of their money back
Concentrated wealth to this degree violates our sense of justice and breeds social instability
It may be bad business in the long-term
Extreme wealth is not a reward for virtue or merit, but simply luck
The True Cost
Website for the documentary: http://truecostmovie.com /
See “Learn More” for more info and resources
