Problems with Priority?
A one-day conference hosted by the Manchester Centre for Political Theory (MANCEPT)
Friday, 19th November 2010, 10am – 5.30pm
5.206 University Place, University of Manchester
The Priority View has for a more than a decade been considered a leading alternative to egalitarian views according to which there is non-instrumental moral value in the realisation of equal benefits. It is often supposed both to capture the concern for the worst off that underlies much egalitarian thinking and to avoid objections—in particular, the 'levelling down objection'—to the egalitarian views in question.
However, in their 2009 Philosophy & Public Affairs article "Why It Matters That Some Are Worse Off Than Others: An Argument against the Priority View" (P&PA vol. 37, no. 2), Michael Otsuka and Alex Voorhoeve have offered a new argument to show that the Priority View is itself vulnerable to fatal objection. This conference is devoted to exploration and criticism of that new argument and will include a 'response to critics' session with Otsuka and Voorhoeve.
Speakers
- Martin O'Neill ( York )
- Michael Otsuka ( University College London )
- Thomas Porter ( Manchester )
- Alex Voorhoeve ( London School of Economics)
- Andrew Williams ( I.C.R.E.A. and Pompeu Fabra University )
Schedule
10am: Registration
10.15am: Martin O'Neill (York): 'Priority, Preference, and Value'
11.35am: Tom Porter (Manchester): 'In defence of the Priority View'
12.50pm: Lunch
1.45pm: Andrew Williams (ICREA and Pompeu Fabra): 'Equality, Priority, and Risk'
3pm: Refreshments
3.30pm: Mike Otsuka: 'Prioritarianism and the Separateness of Persons', Alex Voorhoeve: 'Egalitarianism and the Separateness of Persons', Mike Otsuka and Alex Voorhoeve: Replies to critics
5.30: End
Registration
£40 including registration, refreshments, and lunch. There are a limited number of subsidised places for graduate students. The cost for graduate students taking up these places is £20. The places are assigned on a first come, first served basis. We are grateful to the Analysis Trust for subsidising these places.