Introduction

doi:10.1017/9781108691734.001

1 - Introduction

Prioritarianism in Practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 June 2022

Matthew D. Adler and

Ole F. Norheim

Edited by

Matthew D. Adler and

Ole F. Norheim

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Matthew D. Adler: Affiliation:
Duke University, North Carolina
Ole F. Norheim: Affiliation:
Universitetet i Bergen, Norway

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Summary

Prioritarianism is a framework for ethical assessment that gives extra weight to the worse off. Unlike utilitarianism, which simply adds up well-being numbers, prioritarianism is sensitive to the distribution of well-being across the population of ethical concern. Prioritarianism in Practice examines the use of prioritarianism as a policy-evaluation methodology – across a range of policy domains, including taxation, health policy, risk regulation, climate change, education, and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic –and as an indicator of a society’s condition (as contrasted with GDP). This chapter is an introductory chapter to the Prioritarianism in Practice volume.It surveys the intellectual roots of prioritarianism: in the philosophical literature, in welfare economics, and in scholarship about public health. And it provides brief summaries of each of the volume’s chapters.

Keywords

prioritarianism utilitarianism policy evaluation social welfare function (SWF)well-being distribution

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Type: Chapter
Information: Prioritarianism in Practice , pp. 1 - 36

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108691734.001 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2022

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