Limitarianism and Relative Thresholds

25 Pages Posted: 21 Jun 2019 Last revised: 10 Oct 2022

Date Written: June 15, 2019

Abstract

In her groundbreaking paper “Having too much” Ingrid Robeyns introduces “limitarianism”, arguing that it is morally impermissible to have more resources than needed for a maximally flourishing life. Since, limitarianism is gaining attention from supporters and critics. This paper focuses on one component of Robeyns’ limitarian theory, namely the nature of the riches threshold, the point above which limitarian restrictions kick in. The threshold, according to Robeyns, is located at the point in which human flourishing is satiated; above this threshold, surplus resources do not have any moral weight. This paper suggests an alternative riches threshold: a relative, resource-based threshold, which is better attuned to limitarianism’s justifications, is not susceptible to the incentives objection, is suitable for a partial principle of justice that should be applied in tandem with other principles of justice, and is more compatible with the intuition underlying limitarianism. Since the riches threshold should fit the justification offered for limitarianism, different justifications for the principle result in different thresholds. Therefore, I also argue that limitarianism is best understood as a set of principles, each with its own threshold, justifications, and conditions for operation.

Keywords: distributive justice, egalitarianism, political philosophy, theories of justice, sufficiency, priority, sufficientarianism, prioritarianism

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Suggested Citation

Harel Ben-Shahar, Tammy, Limitarianism and Relative Thresholds (June 15, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3404687 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3404687

Tammy Harel Ben-Shahar (Contact Author)

University of Haifa ( email )

Mount Carmel
Haifa, 31905
Israel

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