Luck egalitarianism

Luck egalitarianism is a view of distributive justice. Its central claim is that it is unjust when people are worse off through no choice or fault of their own. Ronald Dworkin offered the first account of luck egalitarianism in two articles in 1981. A significant number of other philosophers have developed, diversified, and refined the view since. This entry consists of three parts. First, it describes the origins of luck egalitarianism. Second, it introduces two of its central characteristics: the distinction between brute luck and option luck and the need for a principle of stakes. Third, it explores two important objections to luck egalitarianism, regarding the treatment of those with bad option luck and those with bad brute luck.