Solidarity and social justice in contemporary
societies
Knowledge clips week 1
WHAT IS THE TRADEGY OF THE COMMONS?
The tragedy of the commons was first described by the economist William Forster
Lloyd in 1833. More than 100 years later, ecologist Garret Hardin revived the concept
to describe what happens when many individuals all share limited resource. Hardin
argued that these situations pitch short-term self-interest against the common good
and they end badly for everyone. The key feature of a tragedy of the commons is that
it provides an opportunity for an individual to benefit him or herself while spreading
out any negative effects across the larger population.
Optimizing for the self in the short term isn’t optimal for anyone in the long term. But
human civilization has proven it’s capable of doing something remarkable. We form
social contracts, make communal agreements, elect governments and pass laws. All
this to save our collective selves from our own individual impulses.
Hardin’s lesson: when the tragedy of the commons applies, what’s good for all of us,
is good for each of us
Examples: hoarding toilet paper (covid), taking a plane, elevator Dalton
SOCIAL POLICY: WHAT IS IT AND WHY DOES IT MATTER FOR SOLIDARITY AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE?
Social policies address a wide range of social inequalities. Social policy is a contestant
concept, it is defined in many ways.
Suggested definition: social policy = a crucial way of how welfare states
‘’attempt to identify and address social inequalities as well as social risks that
have societal consequences’’
Social policy often represents the public or the collective management of social
issues. These issues can be a range from education and housing to support for the
unemployed. Because resources in society are unevenly distributed, the needs of
individuals and groups vary significantly. As a result, some social groups are
undervalued compared to others, reinforcing social inequality.
Thus, social policy can also be seen as an institutionalized response to social and
economic problems, one that aims to reduce disadvantage and promote collective
well-being.
Social policies are shaped by different political ideologies, such as conservatism,
liberalism and socialism. These ideologies influence how problems are understood and
which solutions are prioritized. The creation and implementation of social policies
involve multiple stakeholders, including governments, non-profit organizations and
local communities.
, Importantly, social policy is dynamic, it evolves in response to shifting economic
conditions, social values and public demands.
Ultimately, social policy plays a crucial role in promoting social justice, fostering
solidarity and ensuring equal access to essential services, particularly for vulnerable
or marginalized populations.
Knowledge clips week 2
RAWLS’ VEIL OF IGNORANCE
Your blueprint for a ‘just’ society probably reflects who you are and the situation you
find yourself in. You want to answer the question what a ‘just’ society is by thinking
you don’t know what kind of a person you will be in the society. You have to construct
it behind a veil of ignorance, you might be black, white, in a wheelchair, gay, wealthy
family. You just don’t know how you will end up. This is the thought experiment of John
Rawls. He argued that from behind the veil, we would opt for a much fairer society.
There would be extensive freedom and fair equality of opportunity. But there wouldn’t
pe extremes of high pay, unless it could be shown that the poorest in society directly
benefit even as a result.
RAWLS’ KEY CONCEPTS
John Rawls introduces us to the concepts of social justice. In his book he presents
fundamental questions to consider what society should look like. Rawls thinking does
not provide us an answer, however it urges us to debate the issues.
Rawls suggests that: ‘’Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of
systems of thought’’. In other words, it is morally good to have a just society. This
analogy with truth to theory centres around three basic ideas:
1. Unjust is only okay if it helps to prevent greater unjust (its only okay to lock
people up in prison, to help prevent greater injustice)
2. But how do we decide what is just? Rawls suggests that we need to create some
basic principles of justice. He says if everyone in society is reasonable and
willing to act in a form of principle of justice, than we still need to clarify what
those principles are. In society we have common interests and a conflict of
interests. If we recognize the common interests and cooperate with each other,
we are better off. But even with cooperation and common interest, we can still
be self-interested. This can create conflict of interest.
3. We need to trust that there are just principles in society that are widely shared
in society. When trust in institutions is low, people don’t believe that basic social
institutions satisfy existing principles of social justice. Which can lead to social
unrest (George Floyd)
To try and understand this discussion, its important to consider some key terms used
by Rawls. Rawls differentiates between concept and conceptions of justice:
- Concept = basic/abstract idea
- Conception = what do we believe to be just?
societies
Knowledge clips week 1
WHAT IS THE TRADEGY OF THE COMMONS?
The tragedy of the commons was first described by the economist William Forster
Lloyd in 1833. More than 100 years later, ecologist Garret Hardin revived the concept
to describe what happens when many individuals all share limited resource. Hardin
argued that these situations pitch short-term self-interest against the common good
and they end badly for everyone. The key feature of a tragedy of the commons is that
it provides an opportunity for an individual to benefit him or herself while spreading
out any negative effects across the larger population.
Optimizing for the self in the short term isn’t optimal for anyone in the long term. But
human civilization has proven it’s capable of doing something remarkable. We form
social contracts, make communal agreements, elect governments and pass laws. All
this to save our collective selves from our own individual impulses.
Hardin’s lesson: when the tragedy of the commons applies, what’s good for all of us,
is good for each of us
Examples: hoarding toilet paper (covid), taking a plane, elevator Dalton
SOCIAL POLICY: WHAT IS IT AND WHY DOES IT MATTER FOR SOLIDARITY AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE?
Social policies address a wide range of social inequalities. Social policy is a contestant
concept, it is defined in many ways.
Suggested definition: social policy = a crucial way of how welfare states
‘’attempt to identify and address social inequalities as well as social risks that
have societal consequences’’
Social policy often represents the public or the collective management of social
issues. These issues can be a range from education and housing to support for the
unemployed. Because resources in society are unevenly distributed, the needs of
individuals and groups vary significantly. As a result, some social groups are
undervalued compared to others, reinforcing social inequality.
Thus, social policy can also be seen as an institutionalized response to social and
economic problems, one that aims to reduce disadvantage and promote collective
well-being.
Social policies are shaped by different political ideologies, such as conservatism,
liberalism and socialism. These ideologies influence how problems are understood and
which solutions are prioritized. The creation and implementation of social policies
involve multiple stakeholders, including governments, non-profit organizations and
local communities.
, Importantly, social policy is dynamic, it evolves in response to shifting economic
conditions, social values and public demands.
Ultimately, social policy plays a crucial role in promoting social justice, fostering
solidarity and ensuring equal access to essential services, particularly for vulnerable
or marginalized populations.
Knowledge clips week 2
RAWLS’ VEIL OF IGNORANCE
Your blueprint for a ‘just’ society probably reflects who you are and the situation you
find yourself in. You want to answer the question what a ‘just’ society is by thinking
you don’t know what kind of a person you will be in the society. You have to construct
it behind a veil of ignorance, you might be black, white, in a wheelchair, gay, wealthy
family. You just don’t know how you will end up. This is the thought experiment of John
Rawls. He argued that from behind the veil, we would opt for a much fairer society.
There would be extensive freedom and fair equality of opportunity. But there wouldn’t
pe extremes of high pay, unless it could be shown that the poorest in society directly
benefit even as a result.
RAWLS’ KEY CONCEPTS
John Rawls introduces us to the concepts of social justice. In his book he presents
fundamental questions to consider what society should look like. Rawls thinking does
not provide us an answer, however it urges us to debate the issues.
Rawls suggests that: ‘’Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of
systems of thought’’. In other words, it is morally good to have a just society. This
analogy with truth to theory centres around three basic ideas:
1. Unjust is only okay if it helps to prevent greater unjust (its only okay to lock
people up in prison, to help prevent greater injustice)
2. But how do we decide what is just? Rawls suggests that we need to create some
basic principles of justice. He says if everyone in society is reasonable and
willing to act in a form of principle of justice, than we still need to clarify what
those principles are. In society we have common interests and a conflict of
interests. If we recognize the common interests and cooperate with each other,
we are better off. But even with cooperation and common interest, we can still
be self-interested. This can create conflict of interest.
3. We need to trust that there are just principles in society that are widely shared
in society. When trust in institutions is low, people don’t believe that basic social
institutions satisfy existing principles of social justice. Which can lead to social
unrest (George Floyd)
To try and understand this discussion, its important to consider some key terms used
by Rawls. Rawls differentiates between concept and conceptions of justice:
- Concept = basic/abstract idea
- Conception = what do we believe to be just?
