Thèse (M.A.)--Université Laval, 2004. / Bibliogr.: f. 120-122. Publié aussi en version électronique.

No presente trabalho, é realizado um experimento para investigar as escolhas entre distintas distribuições de renda, sob diferentes conjuntos informacionais. Os indivíduos são defrontados com distribuições baseadas nas teorias de John Rawls (2002), Robert Nozick (1991) e duas distribuições mistas, sob dois tratamentos distintos: o primeiro com o véu de ignorância da teoria rawlsiana e, o segundo, sem o véu de ignorância. Os resultados revelaram um maior número de escolhas do modelo rawlsiano sob o véu de ignorância, enquanto no tratamento sem véu a maioria dos participantes escolheu o modelo de Nozick, ainda que sob esse tratamento o padrão de escolhas tenha sido mais homogêneo. Esses resultados indicam a instabilidade de princípios escolhidos sob o véu de ignorância. / This work provides a synthesis of three theories of justice: from Rawls, Nozick and the utilitarian theory. Then an experiment is proposed, aimed to investigate choices of distributive justice based on these theories. The individuals are confronted with different income distributions, under two distinct informational treatments: the first with a veil of ignorance and, the second, with no veil of ignorance. The results point to a majority of choices of the rawlsian principle under the veil of ignorance treatment, while under the non veil of ignorance treatment there is a majority of choices of Nozick’s model of distribution of income. These results indicate the instability of principles of justice chosen under the veil of ignorance.

Le présent mémoire cherche à préciser les contours d'une fiscalité équitable dans le cadre du système économique et politique actuel au Québec et au Canada. Pour ce faire, il commence (chapitre 1) par présenter les objectifs des régimes d'imposition et les moyens dont dispose ici l'État pour les atteindre. Par la suite (chapitre Il), nous exposons quatre théories libérales influentes de la justice reconnaissant toutes d'une part une place centrale à un idéal de la promotion de la liberté individuelle, d'autre part un certain rôle au libre-marché dans l'économie. Ces théories sont les suivantes: l'utilitarisme; la théorie de la justice comme équité; le libertarianisme et la théorie des capabilités. Enfin (chapitre III), après avoir retenu comme modèle la théorie des capabilités de Sen et justifié ce choix, nous esquissons, sur cette base, les contours d'une fiscalité équitable en nous efforçant d'en montrer la désirabilité et la faisabilité. La conclusion de ce mémoire en rappelle les inévitables limites et indique sommairement les avenues de recherche qu'ouvre le présent travail. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Fiscalité, Théorie de la justice, Équité, Éthique, Amartya Sen, John Rawls, Milton Friedman, Robert Nozick, Québec, Canada.

No presente trabalho, é realizado um experimento para investigar as escolhas entre distintas distribuições de renda, sob diferentes conjuntos informacionais. Os indivíduos são defrontados com distribuições baseadas nas teorias de John Rawls (2002), Robert Nozick (1991) e duas distribuições mistas, sob dois tratamentos distintos: o primeiro com o véu de ignorância da teoria rawlsiana e, o segundo, sem o véu de ignorância. Os resultados revelaram um maior número de escolhas do modelo rawlsiano sob o véu de ignorância, enquanto no tratamento sem véu a maioria dos participantes escolheu o modelo de Nozick, ainda que sob esse tratamento o padrão de escolhas tenha sido mais homogêneo. Esses resultados indicam a instabilidade de princípios escolhidos sob o véu de ignorância. / This work provides a synthesis of three theories of justice: from Rawls, Nozick and the utilitarian theory. Then an experiment is proposed, aimed to investigate choices of distributive justice based on these theories. The individuals are confronted with different income distributions, under two distinct informational treatments: the first with a veil of ignorance and, the second, with no veil of ignorance. The results point to a majority of choices of the rawlsian principle under the veil of ignorance treatment, while under the non veil of ignorance treatment there is a majority of choices of Nozick’s model of distribution of income. These results indicate the instability of principles of justice chosen under the veil of ignorance.

No presente trabalho, é realizado um experimento para investigar as escolhas entre distintas distribuições de renda, sob diferentes conjuntos informacionais. Os indivíduos são defrontados com distribuições baseadas nas teorias de John Rawls (2002), Robert Nozick (1991) e duas distribuições mistas, sob dois tratamentos distintos: o primeiro com o véu de ignorância da teoria rawlsiana e, o segundo, sem o véu de ignorância. Os resultados revelaram um maior número de escolhas do modelo rawlsiano sob o véu de ignorância, enquanto no tratamento sem véu a maioria dos participantes escolheu o modelo de Nozick, ainda que sob esse tratamento o padrão de escolhas tenha sido mais homogêneo. Esses resultados indicam a instabilidade de princípios escolhidos sob o véu de ignorância. / This work provides a synthesis of three theories of justice: from Rawls, Nozick and the utilitarian theory. Then an experiment is proposed, aimed to investigate choices of distributive justice based on these theories. The individuals are confronted with different income distributions, under two distinct informational treatments: the first with a veil of ignorance and, the second, with no veil of ignorance. The results point to a majority of choices of the rawlsian principle under the veil of ignorance treatment, while under the non veil of ignorance treatment there is a majority of choices of Nozick’s model of distribution of income. These results indicate the instability of principles of justice chosen under the veil of ignorance.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: On The io" of May 1994 Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first democratically elected black president of South Africa. The occasion was regarded, both nationally and internationally, as a triumph for humanity and perfused with a widespread optimism for the future of South Africa. Mandela proclaimed in his inaugural speech that "Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will experience oppression of one by another .... The sun shall never set on so glorious an achievement." However, now, less than 10 years later the rapidly accelerating and devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic is again 'obscuring the sun'. Those people affected so negatively by the racial, economic and gender injustices of the apartheid past, seem again to be suffering a possible injustice, because of a health and welfare system that is struggling to meet the needs of the HIV affected population. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the concept of distributive justice in South Africa, within the context of this devastating epidemic. I begin by discussing the Bill of Rights in the South African Constitution. I argue that an acceptable framework for a theory of justice for health care in South Africa, must be worked out against the background of this egalitarian Bill of Rights. I then consider the extent of the HIV epidemic, the effect it is having on the people of South Africa and the consequent implications for health care needs. It is within this context that I examine and compare three theories of distributive justice, namely utilitarianism, John Rawls' theory of "Justice as Fairness" and a libertarian concept of justice, as proposed by Robert Nozick. Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory that focuses on producing the 'greatest happiness for the greatest number'. I argue that many health policy decisions in South Africa are in fact guided by this principle. However utilitarianism has both strengths and weaknesses which are critically examined. Within the framework of health care policy making, utilitarian justice dictates that rights are derivative and that the welfare of the majority usually takes precedence over the pressing needs of a minority. This issue in particular is discussed. Rawls' theory of "Justice as fairness" is critically discussed next. This theory has been adapted to health care by Norman Daniels, who argues that the Rawlsian principle of "fair equality of opportunity" is a suitable founding principle for health care institutions. Apartheid entrenched a system of 'inequality of opportunity'. Consequently, a theory that focuses on equality of opportunity, has many advantages within the South African context. I examine this theory in detail and provide justification for my assertion that it could be usefully adapted to South African healthcare and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Finally, I discuss a Libertarian (Nozickian) theory of justice and examine both the strengths and weaknesses of this theory. I attempt to demonstrate why a libertarian system, with it vigorous commitment to moral and economic individualism and belief that one is only entitled to that share of healthcare that can be paid for, would be unjust, if rigorously applied within the post-apartheid South African context. I conclude my dissertation by reiterating my assertion that "Justice as Fair Equality of Opportunity" could be used as a just foundation for a theory of justice for health care in current day, HIV/AIDS affected South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Teorieë van geregtigheid en 'n gesondheidsbeleid vir die VIGS epidemie in Suid Afrika: 'n vergelykende ontleding. Op die 10de Mei 1994 is Nelson Mandela ingehuldig as die eerste demokraties verkose swart president van Suid- Afrika. Die geleentheid is in beide Suid-Afrika en in die buiteland beskou as 'n oorwinning vir humaniteit. Optimisme oor Suid-Afrika se toekoms was oral tasbaar. Mandela het in sy inhuldigingstoespraak verkondig dat dit nooit weer sal gebeur dat hierdie pragtige land sal lyonder die onderdrukking van een oor die ander nie. Hy het gesê dat die son nooit salondergaan op so 'n wonderlike prestasie nie. Nou, minder as tien jaar later, is die verwoestende VIGS epidemie besig om weer die 'son te laat ondergaan'. Dieselffde mense wat alreeds onder apartheid se rasisme en ekonomiese en geslagsongeregtighede gely het, blyk nou weer verontreg te word; hierde keer omdat die gesondheids- en welsynsisteem sukkel om in die behoeftes van die VIGS-geaffekteerde populasie te voorsien. Die doel van hierdie verhandeling is om die konsep van distributiewe geregtigheid in die konteks van die dreigende VIGS epidemie te bespreek. Ek begin met 'n bespreking van die Verklaring van Regte soos vervat in die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet. Ek voer aan dat enige aanvaarbare teorie oor geregtigheid in die Suid-Afrikaanse gesondheidsisteem gegrond moet word op hierdie egalitêre Verklaring van Regte. Tweedens kyk ek na die omvang van die VIGS epidemie, die effek wat dit op die HIV-positiewe populasie en hulle familielede het, en die gevolglike implikasies vir gesondheidsbehoeftes. Dit is binne hierdie konteks dat ek drie teorieë van distributiewe geregtigheid ondersoek en vergelyk; naamlik utilitarisme, John Rawls se teorie van "Justice as Fairness", en 'n libertynse konsep van geregtigheid soos voorgestel deur Robert Nozick. Utilitarisme is 'n konsekwensialistise teorie wat beteken dat die regte daad die een is wat in enige situasie die grootste geluk vir die meeste persone sal meebring. Ek voer aan dat baie van die beleidsrigtings wat 'n gesondheidsorg in Suid-Afrika gevolg is, deur hierdie teorie beïnvloed is. Utilitarisme het uiteraard sterk en swak punte en beide kante word krities ondersoek. In 'n gesondheidsorg konteks beteken utilitarisme dat regte altyd afgelei is en dat die welsyn van die meerderheid gewoonlik belangriker is as die van 'n minderheid, selfs wanneer die probleme van die minderheid ernstig en dringend is. Rawls se teorie van geregtigheid word vervolgens krities bespreek. Hierdie teorie is deur Norman Daniels aangepas vir gesondheidsorg. Hy stel voor dat Rawls se beginsel van 'regverdige gelykheid van geleentheid' baie effektief aangepas kan word vir gesondheidsorginstellings. Apartheid het 'n sisteem van ongelyke geleentheids verskans; gevolglik hou 'n teorie wat gelykheid van geleentheid verseker baie voordele vir die Suid- Afrikanse situasie in. Ek bespreek hierdie teorie in detail en poog om my standpunt dat die teorie besonder geskik is vir Suid-Afrikaanse gesondheidsisteem - veral in die konteks van die VIGS epidemie - te regverdig. Laastens bespreek ek die libertynse teorie van geregtigheid soos voorgestel deur Robert Nozick. Ek probeer aantoon waarom hierdie teorie, wat gebaseer is op morele en ekonomiese individualisme en gevolglik aanvoer dat mense geregtig is op gesondheidsorg alleenlik as hulle daarvoor kan betaal, onregverdig is in die Suid-Afrikaanse post-apartheid konteks. Ek sluit hierdie. verhandeling af deur weer te argumenteerdat Rawls se teorie en die beginsel van 'geregtigheid as gelyke geleentheide' uiters geskik is as 'n grondslag vir gesondheidsorg in Suid-Afrika vandag.