Prioritarianism

Prioritarianism is a moral theory that prioritizes improvements in someone's life based on their current state, aiming to distribute well-being fairly and tilt towards the worse off. It is a standard for making individual and public policies, offering a distinctive alternative to utilitarianism, sufficiency, and egalitarianism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 02 June 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Prioritarianism is a moral philosophy that emphasizes the value of improving someone's life, particularly when it results in gains in well-being. According to this doctrine, the worse off a person is, the more morally valuable it is to make improvements in their life. The principle of impartiality holds that a gain in one person's life is equal to an identical gain in the life of anyone else who is equally well off.

If we have a duty to make the world a better place, prioritarianism provides guidance on the content of that duty. Unlike utilitarianism, which focuses solely on maximizing total well-being, prioritarianism goes beyond that and seeks to distribute human well-being fairly across individuals. This means that we should tilt in favor of the worse off and prioritize their needs.

A variant version of prioritarianism adds that we should also give priority to the morally deserving, such as saints over scoundrels. This view serves as a standard for making right choices in individual actions and public policies, offering a distinctive alternative to utilitarianism, sufficiency, and egalitarianism.

By emphasizing the value of improving the lives of those who are worse off, prioritarianism provides a moral framework that aims to create a more just and equitable society. It reminds us that every person deserves to live a life of dignity and respect, and that we have a responsibility to work towards that goal.

Weight: 134g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108730693