Philosophy, et cetera: Libertarian vs. Utilitarian Justice

Philosophy, et cetera: Libertarian vs. Utilitarian Justice: "Libertarian and utilitarian theories of justice are, in many respects, diametrically opposed. Libertarians hold that the free market is inherently just, and redistributive taxation violates people’s property rights.[1] Utilitarians, by contrast, are fundamentally concerned with the promotion of human welfare. They hold that society ought to be organized in whatever fashion would best achieve this end – potentially justifying massive redistribution of wealth to the needy. The two theories also differ significantly in their temporal perspectives. Libertarian ‘entitlement theory’ understands justice to be a purely historical matter: “whether a distribution is just depends on how it came about.”[2] Utilitarianism, on the other hand, is purely forward-looking: justice is determined by what would have the best consequences for all concerned."