Similarity and the trustworthiness of distributive judgements. (27th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Voorhoeve, Alex; Stefánsson, Arnaldur; Wallace, Brian
• Is Part Of: Economics and philosophy. Volume 35:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 537
• Page End: 561
• Publication Date: 2018-12-27
• Subjects: similarity, -- distributive justice, -- moral decision-making, -- heuristics, -- reflective equilibrium; Economics -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; 330.01
• DOI: 10.1017/S0266267118000457
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-2671

Abstract

Abstract: When people must either save a greater number of people from a smaller harm or a smaller number from a greater harm, do their choices reflect a reasonable moral outlook? We pursue this question with the help of an experiment. In our experiment, two-fifths of subjects employ a similarity heuristic. When alternatives appear dissimilar in terms of the number saved but similar in terms of the magnitude of harm prevented, this heuristic mandates saving the greater number. In our experiment, this leads to choices that are inconsistent with all standard theories of justice. We argue that this demonstrates the untrustworthiness of distributive judgements in cases that elicit similarity-based choice.