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Presumption of Equality

Rabinowicz, Wlodek LU (2008) Rutgers-Lund Philosophy Conference 2008:1. p.109-155
Abstract
Presumption of Equality requires that individuals be treated equally in the absence of relevant information that would discriminate between them. Our objective is to make this principle more precise, if viewed as a principle of fairness, and to determine why and under what conditions it should be obeyed.

Presumption norms are procedural constraints, but their justification can be sought in the possible or expected outcomes of the procedures they regulate. This is the avenue pursued here. The suggestion is that in the absence of information that would discriminate between the individuals, equal treatment minimizes the expected unfairness of the outcome. A related suggestion is that equal treatment under these circumstances also... (More)
Presumption of Equality requires that individuals be treated equally in the absence of relevant information that would discriminate between them. Our objective is to make this principle more precise, if viewed as a principle of fairness, and to determine why and under what conditions it should be obeyed.

Presumption norms are procedural constraints, but their justification can be sought in the possible or expected outcomes of the procedures they regulate. This is the avenue pursued here. The suggestion is that in the absence of information that would discriminate between the individuals, equal treatment minimizes the expected unfairness of the outcome. A related suggestion is that equal treatment under these circumstances also minimizes the maximal possible unfairness of the outcome. Whether these suggestions are correct or not depends on the properties of the underlying unfairness measure. The required properties are specified. The essay also considers the normative status of equal lotteries on uneuql treatments. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
LPR : Lund philosophy reports
editor
Jönsson, Martin
volume
2008:1
pages
46 pages
publisher
Department of Philosophy, Lund University
conference name
Rutgers-Lund Philosophy Conference
conference location
Sweden
conference dates
2008-01-30
ISSN
1404-3718
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b71ec579-7808-4169-b825-d831ae902e2c (old id 1458765)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:35:23
date last changed
2018-11-21 20:28:12
@inproceedings{b71ec579-7808-4169-b825-d831ae902e2c,
  abstract     = {{Presumption of Equality requires that individuals be treated equally in the absence of relevant information that would discriminate between them. Our objective is to make this principle more precise, if viewed as a principle of fairness, and to determine why and under what conditions it should be obeyed.<br/><br>
 Presumption norms are procedural constraints, but their justification can be sought in the possible or expected outcomes of the procedures they regulate. This is the avenue pursued here. The suggestion is that in the absence of information that would discriminate between the individuals, equal treatment minimizes the expected unfairness of the outcome. A related suggestion is that equal treatment under these circumstances also minimizes the maximal possible unfairness of the outcome. Whether these suggestions are correct or not depends on the properties of the underlying unfairness measure. The required properties are specified. The essay also considers the normative status of equal lotteries on uneuql treatments.}},
  author       = {{Rabinowicz, Wlodek}},
  booktitle    = {{LPR : Lund philosophy reports}},
  editor       = {{Jönsson, Martin}},
  issn         = {{1404-3718}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{109--155}},
  publisher    = {{Department of Philosophy, Lund University}},
  title        = {{Presumption of Equality}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/4057959/1458864.doc}},
  volume       = {{2008:1}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}