Page - 104 - in Reflective Cosmopolitanism - Educating towards inclusive communities through Philosophical Enquiry

104 REfLECTIvE COsMOPOLITANIsM This notion of justice doesn’t consider the imbalance created by the different condi- tions of each persons’ starting point, which are linked to factors separate from their will and effort. This is clear when we talk about talent (Human beings are not all equally tal- ented for the same things) and also clear when we consider the social context where we are born. In order to consider this original imbalance in the notion of justice, some theories include the question of need, applying compensatory mechanisms based on different needs (for example, what is usually known in many countries as “positive discrimination”). This theory of justice is more related to the quote “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need”. The relation between what is just, need-based, and merit-based is problematic. Ex- ploring it in class through discussion can allow our thinking to become more nuanced and lead us to take into account factors beyond our control and beyond our will. Exercise: Ambiguous cases of merit In this exercise, as in the following one (and in other similar exercises), the goal is not to stay on “yes” or “no” as potential answers, but to use them to explore the concept being discussed (In this case “merit”: The teacher will ask for reasons, criteria, cases when needed, or when it helps the discussion). In the following situations, you must determine if the person who receives or ob- tains something actually deserves it and should take credit or not. 1. You buy $10 worth of lottery tickets and win $1000. Do you deserve the prize? 2. You work hard all summer as a delivery boy. At the end of the summer they give you as a bonus $150. Do you deserve this money? 3. There is a guitar playing contest. You play wonderfully and win first prize. Do you deserve it? 4. There are elections at school to choose class representatives. The class bully threat- ens you, you vote for him, and he wins the elections. Does he deserve to win? 5. Teams are being picked for football. Pedro, who owns the ball, demands to be on the team. Does he deserve to be on the team? 6. Elections for workers’ representative are being held in a company and a person is elected because he has worked for many years in the union. Does he deserve the position? 7. A friend asks you to keep a parcel in your bag. The police search your bag and arrest you. Do you deserve it? 8. You like your friend’s partner and flirt with him. Your friend is very angry at you. Do you deserve her anger? 9. You have tickets to a concert but the singer is ill and the concert is cancelled. Do you deserve to miss the concert? 10. You have tickets to a concert but you go out the night before, get ill and can´t go. Do you deserve to miss the concert? 11. A raffle for three free tickets to a concert is being held at the band’s fan club. You win one of the tickets. Do you deserve it? 12. Every week, you save a bit of money. In the end you have enough money to buy an Mp3 player. Do you deserve it? 13. A distracted driver does not stop at the traffic lights and is fined for it. Does he deserve the fine? 14. A driver does not stop at the traffic lights because she is taking somebody to hospital and is fined. Does she deserve the fine?