Date of Award
Spring 5-17-2013
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Philosophy
First Advisor
George Rainbolt
Second Advisor
Andrew Altman
Third Advisor
Peter Lindsay
Abstract
In Rescuing Justice and Equality, G. A. Cohen argues that a state of affairs which is equality preserving and Pareto-optimal is possible. In doing so, Cohen adopts an incorrect view of practical possibility. For Cohen, a person (A) being able to realize a given state of affairs is evidence that most persons can realize that same state of affairs. In contrast, I contend that an example of person A being able to realize a state of affairs only evidences the fact that persons who possess similar talents to A can realize that same state of affairs. That is to say, on my view, a state of affairs is practically possible if and only if it is logically, nomologically, and psychologically possible for nearly all persons. As a result, I contend that an equality preserving and Pareto-optimal state of affairs is practically impossible.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/3568846
Recommended Citation
Wallace, Kevin Stanley, "The Practical Impossibility of Cohen's Rescuing Justice & Equality." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2013.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/3568846