19 - JUSTICE - MICHAEL SANDEL - O bom cidadão.

Summary

The transcript explores Aristotle's teleological approach to justice, focusing on the idea that justice involves giving people what they deserve based on the purpose or end (telos) of social practices. Aristotle contrasts his views with modern theorists like Kant and Rawls, emphasizing that justice is not just about rights but about shaping virtuous citizens. The discussion delves into Aristotle's views on politics, the purpose of political life, and how honor and excellence should guide the distribution of political offices. It also examines a modern debate over whether disabled golfer Casey Martin should be allowed to use a golf cart, raising questions about the purpose of competition and the virtues honored in sports.

Takeaways

• 😀 Aristotle's theory of justice emphasizes giving people what they deserve based on their virtues and the purpose (telos) of a social practice.
• 😀 Aristotle disagrees with modern theories of justice (like Kant and Rawls) by arguing that justice is inherently linked to moral desert and virtue.
• 😀 The central idea of Aristotle's justice is that we must consider the purpose or telos of social practices and institutions when deciding who deserves what.
• 😀 Aristotle's example of flutes illustrates his point: the best flute players deserve the best flutes because the goal of flute-making is to honor excellence in flute playing.
• 😀 Aristotle believes that debates about justice often overlap with debates about honor, as deciding what people deserve is linked to recognizing and honoring virtues.
• 😀 In Aristotle's view, politics' purpose is not just about economic exchange or security but about fostering the good life and cultivating virtue in citizens.
• 😀 Aristotle argues that political participation is essential to living a fully realized human life, as humans are naturally meant to live in a political community (the polis).
• 😀 According to Aristotle, virtue cannot be learned merely from books or theoretical principles; it must be practiced through real-world participation in political life.
• 😀 The case of Casey Martin (the golfer with a disability) illustrates the modern debate about what constitutes the essential purpose of a sport or social practice.
• 😀 Aristotle's views highlight the link between debates about justice and the purpose of social practices, such as in the controversy over whether using a golf cart in professional golf is consistent with the sport's telos.

Q & A

What is the central idea of Aristotle's theory of justice?

Aristotle's theory of justice emphasizes giving people what they deserve based on the purpose (telos) of the social practice or institution in question. Justice is not merely about equal distribution but about aligning distributions with the essential nature or purpose of the practice.

How does Aristotle's view on justice differ from that of Kant and Rawls?

Aristotle believes that justice requires reasoning about the purpose or end (telos) of social practices, while Kant and Rawls focus on justice and rights as separate from moral desert and virtue, often emphasizing fairness and liberty over teleological considerations.

What is the role of teleology in Aristotle's view of justice?

Teleology, or the study of purpose, is central to Aristotle's justice. He argues that in any debate about justice, we must consider the purpose or telos of the thing being distributed. For example, in his flute analogy, the best flutes should go to the best flute players, as this honors the virtue of excellent playing.

What is the key difference between modern theories of justice and Aristotle’s perspective on political rule?

Modern theories of justice, like those of Kant and Rawls, often focus on individual rights and fairness, whereas Aristotle argues that political rule should be distributed based on contributions to the common good, which he defines as cultivating virtue and the good life for citizens.

What does Aristotle see as the telos of politics?

For Aristotle, the telos of politics is not merely economic exchange or security but the realization of the good life through the cultivation of virtue in citizens. Politics, in his view, is about shaping moral character and fostering the development of civic virtue.

Why does Aristotle argue that humans can only fully realize their nature within a political community?

Aristotle argues that humans are naturally social creatures who need political life to fully exercise their capacity for language and moral deliberation. Without political participation, individuals cannot fully realize their nature as beings capable of deliberating about right and wrong.

What is the link between civic virtue and participation in politics, according to Aristotle?

Aristotle believes that participating in politics is essential for developing civic virtue because political engagement requires practicing virtues like practical wisdom and moral judgment, which cannot be learned merely through study but must be cultivated through active involvement in community life.

How does the example of Casey Martin and his golf cart illustrate Aristotle's ideas about justice and teleology?

The case of Casey Martin highlights the importance of understanding the telos or purpose of a social practice. The debate about whether he should be allowed to use a golf cart raises questions about the true purpose of golf and whether the ability to walk the course is essential to the competition, thus linking justice with the honoring of specific qualities and virtues.

What arguments are presented against allowing Casey Martin to use a golf cart in professional tournaments?

Opponents argue that walking the course is an essential part of the game of golf, contributing to the athletic nature of the sport. They believe that altering this aspect of the game would compromise its competitive integrity.

What was the Supreme Court's decision in the case of Casey Martin, and why?

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Casey Martin, stating that walking is not an essential part of the game of golf. They argued that the use of a golf cart would not undermine the competitive nature of the sport, and the PGA should accommodate his disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.