Lecture 8 - What's a Fair Start
Course: Justice: What is the Right Thing to Do?
Part 1 - What's a Fair Start?: Rawls argues that even meritocracya distributive system that rewards effortdoesnt go far enough in leveling the playing field because those who are naturally gifted will always get ahead. Furthermore, says Rawls, the naturally gifted cant claim much credit because their success often depends on factors as arbitrary as birth order. Sandel makes Rawlss point when he asks the students who were first born in their family to raise their hands.Part 2 - What Do We Deserve?: Sandel discusses the fairness of pay differentials in modern society. He compares the salary of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day OConnor ($200,000) with the salary of televisions Judge Judy ($25 million). Sandel asks, is this fair? According to John Rawls, it is not.