VALUE NEUTRALITY AND THE RANKING OF OPPORTUNITY SETS. (20th July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Garnett, Michael
• Is Part Of: Economics and philosophy. Volume 32:Number 1(2016:Mar.)
• Page Start: 99
• Page End: 119
• Publication Date: 2015-07-20
• Subjects: Freedom, -- liberty, -- opportunity, -- liberalism, -- neutrality; Economics -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; 330.01
• DOI: 10.1017/S0266267115000279
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-2671

Abstract

Abstract: I argue that a liberal commitment to value neutrality is best honoured by maintaining a pure cardinality component in our rankings of opportunity sets. Two challenges to this claim are considered. The first holds that cardinality rankings are unnecessary for neutrality, since what matters from this perspective is the variety (and not the mere size ) of opportunity sets. The second holds that pure cardinality metrics are insufficient for neutrality, because opportunities cannot be individuated into countable entities without presupposing some relevantly partisan evaluative perspective. In each case, a clear understanding of the liberal basis for valuing liberty yields a satisfying response.