Social Welfare And Virtuement Analysis
The first approach to justice that Sandel describes is welfare. In this approach, perspectives on justice issues are based on the promotion of prosperity, improvement of living standards, and economic growth (Sandel, 2004). We often argue for or base our moral convictions in the notion that they raise living standards of the general public, an idea reminiscent of Bentham’s utilitarianism (Bentham & Lafleur, 1948). Welfare is central to the arguments of both those who condemn and those who do not support laws to impede the phenomena of price gouging. Whereas those who argue for the latter, as Sandel paints as rather fervent economic liberals, believe markets abet overall social welfare by encouraging citizens to work hard to provide the goods
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Virtue is “attitudes and dispositions, qualities of character which a good society depend on” (Sandel, 2004, p. 20). It is the approach that examines the sentimental frenzy of outrage that a moral issue like price gouging spurs. Much of the indignation is grounded in the perception that greed is a vice, and what angers people has less to do with welfare and freedom, and more to do with the greed of those who exploit their neighbours for their own gain (Sandel, 2004). While supporters of laws that ban price gouging argue, "although laws cannot ban greed they can restrain its most brazen expression” (Sandel, 2004, p. 8), others may contend law should not favour certain attitudes over others (Sandel, 2004). Evidently this third idea does not contain the same degree of objectivity as welfare and freedom does, as it is based on acceptance of normative virtues and vices. For example, certain attributes such as greed, in context to price gouging after Hurricane Charley, and failure, by Wall Street in the financial crisis of 2008-2009, are perceived negatively by society. This is turn complicates the predicament, as citizens simultaneously think greed and failure should be punished but judgements of virtue should remain separate from law (Sandel,
Virtue is “attitudes and dispositions, qualities of character which a good society depend on” (Sandel, 2004, p. 20). It is the approach that examines the sentimental frenzy of outrage that a moral issue like price gouging spurs. Much of the indignation is grounded in the perception that greed is a vice, and what angers people has less to do with welfare and freedom, and more to do with the greed of those who exploit their neighbours for their own gain (Sandel, 2004). While supporters of laws that ban price gouging argue, "although laws cannot ban greed they can restrain its most brazen expression” (Sandel, 2004, p. 8), others may contend law should not favour certain attitudes over others (Sandel, 2004). Evidently this third idea does not contain the same degree of objectivity as welfare and freedom does, as it is based on acceptance of normative virtues and vices. For example, certain attributes such as greed, in context to price gouging after Hurricane Charley, and failure, by Wall Street in the financial crisis of 2008-2009, are perceived negatively by society. This is turn complicates the predicament, as citizens simultaneously think greed and failure should be punished but judgements of virtue should remain separate from law (Sandel,