FL Workshop Series: Patterns, Thresholds and Limits

What shape does the distribution of the relevant goods take in a just society? For example, are these goods distributed equally, or does everybody have at least enough of them, or is their distribution tailored to the needs of those who have the least? Or are there several patterns at work, depending – for example – on the good at stake, and the characteristics of a particular society? And what reasons do we have for endorsing particular patterns when we move from ideal levels of theorising to non-ideal theory? For example, relational egalitarians think equal social standing is the goal, but distributive sufficiency might suffice to reach this goal. Furthermore, is it possible for someone to have too much of the relevant good(s)? One may, for example, argue for limits on wealth in order protect political or relational equality, defending a limitarian pattern for egalitarian reasons.

In this workshop, we want to look at the role that distributive patterns play in theories of justice. We are hoping for papers which, among other things (but not limited to), reflect on the role of patterns and thresholds (upper and lower limits) in theories of justice, and the way in which a move from ideal theory to non-ideal theory affects the reasons to endorse particular patterns.