Armstrong on justice, well-being and natural resources
This paper argues first that Armstrong is led to see natural resources primarily as objects of consumption. But many natural resources are better seen as objects of enjoyment, where one person’s access to a resource need not prevent others from enjoying equal access, or as objects of production, whe...
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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Global Justice Network
2021
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| _version_ | 1797088353672232960 |
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| author | Miller, D |
| author_facet | Miller, D |
| author_sort | Miller, D |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | This paper argues first that Armstrong is led to see natural resources primarily as objects of consumption. But many natural resources are better seen as objects of enjoyment, where one person’s access to a resource need not prevent others from enjoying equal access, or as objects of production, where granting control of a resource to one person may produce collateral benefits to others. Second, Armstrong’s approach to resource distribution, which requires that everyone must have equal access to welfare, conceals an ambiguity as to whether this means equal opportunity for welfare, or simply equal welfare – the underlying issue being how far individuals (or countries) should be held responsible for the use they make of the resources they are allocated. Third, when Armstrong attacks arguments that appeal to ‘improvement’ as a basis for claims to natural resources, he treats them as making comparative desert claims: if country A makes a claim to the improved resources on its territory, it must show that their comparative value accurately reflects the productive deserts of its members compared to those of countries B. But in fact, A needs only to make the much weaker claim that its members have done more than others to enhance the value of its resources. Overall, Armstrong’s welfarist approach fails to appreciate the dynamic advantages of allocating resources to those best able to use them productively. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T02:48:50Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:acfa3694-42a6-48d7-b6f7-f5324abbc68d |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T02:48:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | Global Justice Network |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:acfa3694-42a6-48d7-b6f7-f5324abbc68d2022-03-27T03:32:25ZArmstrong on justice, well-being and natural resourcesJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:acfa3694-42a6-48d7-b6f7-f5324abbc68dEnglishSymplectic ElementsGlobal Justice Network2021Miller, DThis paper argues first that Armstrong is led to see natural resources primarily as objects of consumption. But many natural resources are better seen as objects of enjoyment, where one person’s access to a resource need not prevent others from enjoying equal access, or as objects of production, where granting control of a resource to one person may produce collateral benefits to others. Second, Armstrong’s approach to resource distribution, which requires that everyone must have equal access to welfare, conceals an ambiguity as to whether this means equal opportunity for welfare, or simply equal welfare – the underlying issue being how far individuals (or countries) should be held responsible for the use they make of the resources they are allocated. Third, when Armstrong attacks arguments that appeal to ‘improvement’ as a basis for claims to natural resources, he treats them as making comparative desert claims: if country A makes a claim to the improved resources on its territory, it must show that their comparative value accurately reflects the productive deserts of its members compared to those of countries B. But in fact, A needs only to make the much weaker claim that its members have done more than others to enhance the value of its resources. Overall, Armstrong’s welfarist approach fails to appreciate the dynamic advantages of allocating resources to those best able to use them productively. |
| spellingShingle | Miller, D Armstrong on justice, well-being and natural resources |
| title | Armstrong on justice, well-being and natural resources |
| title_full | Armstrong on justice, well-being and natural resources |
| title_fullStr | Armstrong on justice, well-being and natural resources |
| title_full_unstemmed | Armstrong on justice, well-being and natural resources |
| title_short | Armstrong on justice, well-being and natural resources |
| title_sort | armstrong on justice well being and natural resources |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT millerd armstrongonjusticewellbeingandnaturalresources |