How Utilitarian Coronavirus Public Health Policies Violate International Human Rights Law

Efficiency or equality? The utilitarianism–egalitarianism trade‐off determines carbon allocation preference

“…Given the inherent conflict between utilitarian and egalitarian moral values (e.g., Brink, 2015; Pereira et al., 2017; Schimmel, 2021), the more a person endorses utilitarianism, the less they tend to endorse egalitarianism. Therefore, three items adapted from the Consequentialist Scale (Robinson, 2012; e.g., ‘For a country, rules and laws should only be followed when they maximize welfare’.)…”

“…To facilitate comprehension, we use the term 'efficiency-focused justice' when referring to justice reasoning directing to the efficiency approach and the term 'equality-focused justice' when referring to justice reasoning regarding the equality approach. On the basis of different interpretations of justice between utilitarianism and egalitarianism (Bedau, 2017;Brink, 2015;Schimmel, 2021), the current research posits that justice reasoning might account for the effect of a utilitarianism-egalitarianism tradeoff on carbon allocation preference.…”

“…By contrast, egalitarianism maintains that all individuals possess equal intrinsic moral worth, and moral rightness is manifested in treating everyone impartially (e.g., Does et al., 2012; Rawls, 2020; Schwartz, 2006; Van Berkel et al., 2015). For egalitarians, it is morally incorrect to sacrifice individual welfare for any purpose (Schimmel, 2021; Schwartz, 2006). Therefore, utilitarianism and egalitarianism are in conflict when maximizing overall welfare inevitably requires sacrificing some individual or group interests (Bedau, 2017; Brink, 2015; Kymlicka, 2002; Pereira et al., 2017; Schimmel, 2021).…”

“…For egalitarians, it is morally incorrect to sacrifice individual welfare for any purpose (Schimmel, 2021; Schwartz, 2006). Therefore, utilitarianism and egalitarianism are in conflict when maximizing overall welfare inevitably requires sacrificing some individual or group interests (Bedau, 2017; Brink, 2015; Kymlicka, 2002; Pereira et al., 2017; Schimmel, 2021). Given the fundamental tension between utilitarianism and egalitarianism, the present research examined the utilitarianism–egalitarianism trade‐off rather than investigating each in isolation.…”

“…This pattern of justice reasoning is more likely to lead to enhanced efficiency‐focused justice and diminished equality‐focused justice. In contrast, people who prioritize egalitarianism over utilitarianism may rationalize the equality approach, criticizing the efficiency approach for its sacrificing of individual moral worth (Schimmel, 2021; Schwartz, 2006). This pattern of justice reasoning tends to yield diminished efficiency‐focused justice and enhanced equality‐focused justice.…”