[lit-ideas] Re: The Reluctant Water Boarder

  • From: Eric Yost <mr.eric.yost@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:09:07 -0400

Robert quotes Liz: I must be saying “You may not do evil that good may come,” which is a disagreeably high-minded doctrine.



Walter mentioned Rawls' theory of distributive justice a while back. Isn't that essentially "doing unfair things for (perceived) greater social justice"?

How does that hold up under the same "ends never justify means" argument?

Assuming injustice is an evil, wouldn't the same argument apply to affirmative action? Racial quotas? Wouldn't they be classed as a form of evil?

As Simon notes, there are lots of murky dividing lines.

Eric

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