Justice as Desert.

Abstract

There is an ancient tradition, found in both the mainstream of Western philosophy and religion as well as Eastern thought that justice consists in giving people what they deserve - often rendered as giving each person his or her due. In our day desert, while still recognized by the ordinary person, has been undermined or completely dismissed by the leading political and social philosophers of our time. In this essay, I argue that its dismissal has been premature and while distinguishing "merit" from "desert" argue that both have a central place in moral and political philosophy as defining justice.