Login | Register

Reconsidering Rawls : the duty of assistance : an evaluation of its robustness and sufficiency

Title:

Reconsidering Rawls : the duty of assistance : an evaluation of its robustness and sufficiency

Oliver, Kathryn Nicole (2009) Reconsidering Rawls : the duty of assistance : an evaluation of its robustness and sufficiency. Masters thesis, Concordia University.

[thumbnail of MR63036.pdf]
Preview
Text (application/pdf)
MR63036.pdf - Accepted Version
5MB

Abstract

In his work The Law of Peoples , John Rawls is commonly criticized by his cosmopolitan opponents for leaving out an international difference principle. Much concern has been voiced in regards to Rawls's rejection of a global principle of distributive justice despite his argumentation for a distributive principle in his domestic theory. Instead, the only principle that bears any resemblance to an international difference principle and relates directly to economic redistribution between peoples is what Rawls calls a duty of assistance. In this Thesis, I will argue that many critiques of Rawls are not sufficiently charitable toward Rawls's international duty of assistance and do not fully appreciate the potential demands that this duty, if actualized, may require. I argue that once one evaluates the demands that the duty of assistance places upon members in Rawls's Society of Peoples , one can reasonably conclude that the duty of assistance is robust and furthermore reasonably sufficient. Given that the cut-off point of the duty of assistance demands that members in the Society of Peoples must aid a burdened people until (a) the basic needs of the individuals within the burdened society are met; and (b) the once burdened people can be considered a reasonably well-ordered and equal standing member in the Society of Peoples that is politically autonomous, self-sufficient, and self-determining, I will argue that the duty of assistance is a demand that is not to be underestimated and has the potential to be both robust and sufficient.

Divisions:Concordia University > Faculty of Arts and Science > Philosophy
Item Type:Thesis (Masters)
Authors:Oliver, Kathryn Nicole
Pagination:[ix], 120 leaves ; 29 cm.
Institution:Concordia University
Degree Name:M.A.
Program:Philosophy
Date:2009
Thesis Supervisor(s):Gilabert, Pablo
Identification Number:LE 3 C66P45M 2009 O45
ID Code:976600
Deposited By: Concordia University Library
Deposited On:22 Jan 2013 16:29
Last Modified:13 Jul 2020 20:10
Related URLs:
All items in Spectrum are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved. The use of items is governed by Spectrum's terms of access.

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Downloads per month over past year

Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
- Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
Back to top Back to top