Justice, Equality, and Distribution of Goods: A Philosophical Essay

This essay delves into the core concepts of social and political philosophy, primarily focusing on justice and equality, and their interplay with property rights and the distribution of goods. It begins by differentiating between justice and equality, highlighting that while equality treats all individuals the same, justice ensures fairness in societal structures, particularly in the distribution of wealth and resources. The essay explores Kantian theory, emphasizing the need for governments, such as Canada's, to consider diversity when distributing goods, ensuring that policies do not offend any group. It outlines Kant's two principles of justice: equal rights to basic liberties and addressing inequalities to benefit the least advantaged. The essay then addresses the challenges in Canada's wealth distribution, the implications of taxation, and the importance of property rights, referencing the ideas of John Locke. It argues for the need for the government to promote empathy among citizens and establish fair property laws. The paper concludes by emphasizing the government's responsibility to satisfy the needs of its people through equitable distribution and equal opportunities.

Running head: SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
Social and Political Philosophy
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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Justice and equality are two different concepts that go hand in hand. Equality is the way or
the method of treating each and every individual as equal. In other words, it can be termed as the
method of treating all the people without any kinds of biasness or partiality1. However this is not
sufficient for defining justice. Justice is the method by which they can be the initiation of a
consistency or starting an embodiment of the fairness within the society2.The distribution of
wealth or any other good must be such that each and every individual of the society is getting
benefitted from it. It is evident that although social cooperation is more or ,less positive and it
helps in bringing about a sense of justice. It must be noted in this context that As per the
Kantian theory, people also tend to make contradictory claims on one another. They can
also hold opposing views and thoughts about religion, morality, philosophy and others3.
Thus while distributing of goods in Canada, the Government and the other officials have to
remember that it is a land of diversity. Thus the kinds of goods that they are distributing from
one particular group might not hurt the emotions or the sentiments of people belonging to any
group4.
The Kantian theory says that, there are mainly two important principle of justice5. It is based
on these two principles that the Government must take up all the essential decisions of
1 Crofton, Elizabeth J., Yafang Zhang, and Thomas A. Green. "Inoculation stress hypothesis of
environmental enrichment." Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 49 (2015): 19-31.
2 He, Shenjing, et al. "Property rights with price tags? Pricing uncertainties in the production,
transaction and consumption of China’s small property right housing." Land Use Policy 81
(2019): 424-433.
3 Brittan Jr, G.G., 2015. Kant's theory of science. Princeton University Press
4 Engerman, Stanley L. "Some considerations relating to property rights in man." The Atlantic
Slave Trade. Routledge, 2017. 17-39.
5 Niu, Tong. "Research on the Distribution and Selection Mechanism of China's Shared Property
Housing: A Case Study of Beijing." (2018

3SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
distribution of goods. The first principle says that each and every person must have the equal
and the complete right to the attaining of the basic liberties6. On the other hand the other
principle says that the inequalities that often exist in the society are too meet two different
condition, They are
 The inequalities must be to the greatest expected benefit or advantage of the least
advantages
 Attached to the offices and the positions open to all under the conditions of the fair
opportunity however it can be said that these two given conditions are never seen to go
hand in hand in the society.
There are several people who suffer due to that lack of the equal distribution of wealth. It has
been seen that the distribution of goods have not been proper in Canada. There has been a kind
of inequality in the distribution of the wealth. There has been a rise in the improper or unequal
distribution of goods and wealth from 45 to 47 percent. Thus there is naturally a chance that the
people who are getting less amount of money will have several conflicting views and will not be
happy. They will naturally ask for some kinds of improvements in their conditions. At the same
time, the inequalities can only be allowed as long as they are being able to improve the situation
of some of the people.
Redistribution and the property rights are also some of the most important aspects that must
be taken into consideration while the goods are being distributed. Redistribution is indeed one of
the serious matters. The aspect of taxation from the earning of the labors is liked by some while
6 Grainger, Corbett A., and Christopher Costello. "Distributional effects of the transition to
property rights for a common-pool resource." Marine Resource Economics 31.1 (2016): 1-26.

4SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
disliked by many others. Some people of Canada feel that the system of charging taxes from the
hard earned money is like snatching away all the hard work and the labor that has been given by
the person. However some people feel that taxation is needed7. If the process of taxation is
stopped, it will also stop forcing some lazy people or works to work for them who are actually in
utter need of money. Thus the Canadian Government has to keep in mind that while they are
setting the rate of taxes, they must make sure that it is done in a equal and also justified manner.
The laws of emigration must also be set in such a way that helps in supporting the people. If the
country compels the employed people that they have to contribute money and goods for the
welfare and the upliftment of the poor and the needy then the wealthier people might always
choose to travel to other countries. They would feel that it is the best way to move out and settle
in some other places where there will be no compulsions on them for contributing any money for
the charity purposes. However this must not be the practice.
The Government must help in initiating the feelings of care and empathy among the citizens
towards the needy and the poor people8. The Government of Canada must make sure that
feelings of fraternity are being initiated within the rich and the employed people so that they can
give up the option of opting out. They must contribute as per their capability for helping the poor
and the needy people of their country. As per the theory of John Locke, the person who is using
7 Ayers, Adam, John Kittinger, and Mehana Vaughan. "Whose right to manage? Distribution of
property rights affects equity and power dynamics in comanagement." Ecology and Society23.2
(2018).
8 Robinson, Lance W. "Governing shared resources in multi-level systems: It’s not just about
property rights." (2017).

5SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
his or effort on any property for the first time must be entitled to them9. This however is not
applicable at all cases. For an instance is the workers are working on a plot of land for
constructing building, the building cannot come under their ownership. This is because then land
and the construction materials have been purchased by someone else. He has later hired these
laborers for working on the price of land. However the workers must surely get their apt
remuneration for which they are working. Thus, the Government of Canada have to make sure
that the property laws are being set properly so that the owners which have purchase the land and
gave some efforts are getting the ownership.
Thus, it is the duty of the Government of Canada to make sure that they are being able to
satisfy the needs and demands of their people by distributing the goods in a justified manner.
They must not try to make a person better off by making the other worse off. They have to make
sure that all the people are getting equal opportunities for their growth and survival.
9 Locke, J. "John Locke and Emergence Empiricism." Learning Theories for Early Years
Practice (2018): 12.

6SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
References
Ayers, Adam, John Kittinger, and Mehana Vaughan. "Whose right to manage? Distribution of
property rights affects equity and power dynamics in comanagement." Ecology and Society23.2
(2018).
Brittan Jr, G.G., 2015. Kant's theory of science. Princeton University Press.
Crofton, Elizabeth J., Yafang Zhang, and Thomas A. Green. "Inoculation stress hypothesis of
environmental enrichment." Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 49 (2015): 19-31.
Engerman, Stanley L. "Some considerations relating to property rights in man." The Atlantic
Slave Trade. Routledge, 2017. 17-39.
Grainger, Corbett A., and Christopher Costello. "Distributional effects of the transition to
property rights for a common-pool resource." Marine Resource Economics 31.1 (2016): 1-26.
He, Shenjing, et al. "Property rights with price tags? Pricing uncertainties in the production,
transaction and consumption of China’s small property right housing." Land Use Policy 81
(2019): 424-433.
Locke, J. "John Locke and Emergence Empiricism." Learning Theories for Early Years
Practice (2018): 12.
Niu, Tong. "Research on the Distribution and Selection Mechanism of China's Shared Property
Housing: A Case Study of Beijing." (2018).

7SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
Robinson, Lance W. "Governing shared resources in multi-level systems: It’s not just about
property rights." (2017).