Desert (philosophy)

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Desert in philosophy is the condition of being deserving of something, whether good or bad. It is related to justice, revenge, blame, punishment and many topics central to moral philosophy. In ordinary usage, to deserve is to earn or merit a reward; in philosophy, the distinction is drawn in the term desert to include the case that that which one receives as one's just deserts may well be unwelcome, or a reward. For example, if one scratches off a winning lottery ticket, one may be entitled to the money, but one does not necessarily deserve it in the same way one would deserve $5 for mowing a lawn, or a round of applause for performing a solo.

A general formula for desert claims is this: Thing A deserves X in virtue of Y. For example, I (A) deserve a good grade on my test (X) because I studied hard (Y); Cincinnati (A) deserves to be praised (X) because it is a pretty city (Y). Some authors have added a further criteria, qualifying Y. That is, Agent A deserves X in virtue of Y if and only if A is responsible for Y (or, alternatively, if A is also deserving of Y). For example, one does not deserve respect simply because one is a human being, because one is not responsible for being a human being (Y) -- arguments such as this are understandably contentious. Alternatively, if one uses steroids to win in a footrace, one does not deserve to win because one does not deserve increased physical abilities.

One of the most controversial rejections of the concept of desert was made by the political philosopher John Rawls. Rawls, writing in the mid to late twentieth century, claimed that a person cannot claim credit for being born with greater natural endowments (such as superior intelligence or athletic abilities), as it is purely the result of the 'natural lottery'. Therefore, that person does not morally deserve the fruits of his or her talents and/or efforts, such as a good job or a high salary. However, Rawls was careful to explain that, even though he dismissed the concept of moral Desert, people can still legitimately expect to receive the benefits of their efforts and/or talents. The distinction here lies between Desert and, in Rawls' own words, 'Legitimate Expectations'. (See John Rawls' renowned book, Theory of Justice, for more information.)

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