Synopses & Reviews
Schmidtz and Goodin debate the ethical merits of individual versus collective responsibility for welfare.
Review
"Philosophers looking for a good basis for delving into welfare state debates will find this book quite helpful, and it is an excellent choice for upper-level undergraduate or graduate courses in political philosophy and public policy. It deserves a wide audience." Daniel J. Shapiro, Ethics
Review
"...an excellent piece of work. ...written with an air of sweet reasonableness..." Daniel Shapiro, Reason
Synopsis
The issue of social welfare and individual responsibility has become a topic of international public debate in recent years as politicians around the world now question the legitimacy of state-funded welfare programs. David Schmidtz and Robert Goodin debate the ethical merits of individual versus collective responsibility for welfare. David Schmidtz argues that social welfare policy should prepare people for responsible adulthood rather than try to make that unnecessary. Robert Goodin argues against the individualization of welfare policy and expounds the virtues of collective responsibility.
Table of Contents
Part I. Taking Responsibility David Schmidtz; 1. Preface; 2. The tide of wealth; 3. Why isn't everyone destitute?; 4. Responsibility and community; 5. Mutual aid; 6. But is it just?; Part II. Social Welfare as a Collective Social Responsibility Robert E. Goodin; 7. The policy context; 8. Some keywords in context; 9. Collective responsibility; 10. The classic case for collectivization restated; 11. The morality of incentives and deterrence; 12. The point of politics.