Philosophical traditions: ideologies, explanations and responses 2

1
Philosophical traditions ideologies,
explanations and responses (2)

• SWP12SP SWP12PPI
• Lecture 5, 2007
• Maureen Long

2
Outline of lecture

• Re-visit ideologies/traditions in understanding
  poverty
• Humanism
• Principles of social justice
• Case examples

3
Reflections on ideologies

• Last week looked at a number of traditions and
  ideologies Libertarian/neo-liberal
• Social Liberal
• Egalitarian
• Conservative
• Marxism
• What ideas underpin each approach?

4
Humanist tradition

• A way of thinking that seeks to bring out the
  best in people
• Focus on responsibility for own life, rational
  enquiry, and individual freedom
• Investment in the well-being of all
• Commitment to a rational and just society
  (Humanist Society of South Australia)

5
Humanist tradition

• Humanism believes in the capacity of conscious
  human beings to reason, make choices and act
  freely (Payne 1997174)
• Set of ideas based on notion of the intrinsic
  value of the individual and the importance of the
  individual being supported to develop to the best
  of their ability.

6
Approach to poverty-economic humanism

• No group in society can afford poverty
• -- The social costs of poverty are
  unacceptable
• Move from idea of handouts to addressing
  poverty through investment in people
• Assess benefit of policies on basis of impact on
  citizenskey performance measure (Edgar D.1991)

7
Limitations of humanism

• Ahistorical approach
• Lack of recognition of the context of peoples
  lives
• Client-centredfocus on self-development
  (Mullaly 199728)

8
What is social justice?

• Contested idea for some on the right the idea
  of social justice has no value justice is best
  achieved by application of the law
• Allocation of resources can be neither
• just nor unjust, because the results are not
  intended (Commission on Social Justice)

9
Social justice

• Left tradition views application of social
  justice principles as critical in the provision
  of just and fair treatment of citizens cannot
  leave people open to the fluctuations of the
  market

10
Principles of social justice

• Foundation of a free society is the equal worth
  of all citizens
• Everyone is entitled as a right of citizenship to
  be able to meet their basic needs
• The right to self-respect and personal autonomy
  demands the widest possible spread of
  opportunities
• Not all inequalities are unjust but unjust
  inequalities should be reduced and where possible
  eliminated (Commission on social justice)

11
Ideas underpinning social justice

• Notions associated with justice include
• -- equality
• -- need
• -- entitlement, merit and desert

12
Social justice

• Ideas about social justice are both
• Complex
• Indeterminate what should the just outcome
  be?
• Generalist policies
• Specific policies

13
Notions of social justice

• Equal value of all citizens
• Meeting basic needs
• Opportunities and life chances

14
Discussion points

• Government is on a crusade and it is called
  welfare to work -- to get single parents and
  those on disability payments off welfare and into
  work and if they do not, they will be seriously
  penalized
• (Background Briefing ABC radio 2006)

15
Discussion points

• Ending welfare as we know itmaking welfare what
  it should be a second chance not a way of life
  (Bill Clinton)
• Welfare reform is all about redefining
  citizenshipnew rules for the welfare
  state--replace dependence with independence (Tony
  Blair)

16

• Mutual obligation
• Welfare dependence
• Responsibility of govt. to put policies in place
  that will allow people to earn more and keep more
  (Tony Abbott)
• Numbers on welfare are growing and this is
  unsustainable (Background briefing Soul
  searching about welfare 2006 ABC Radio National

17

• 1.6 million children less in poverty in the US
  since welfare to work reforms according to
  Government
• In US welfare reforms outcome is contested
  ground Urban Research Institute rhetoric very
  powerful about ending welfare -- made bigger
  impact than the actual reduction in welfare

18
References

• Edgar, D. (1991) Economic humanism A new
  national direction for the 1990s. Family Matters.
  No. 30. December 1991, p. 2-4
• Mullaly, B. (1997) Structural social work. Oxford
  University Press
• Commission on Social Justice (2000) What is
  social justice? In Pierson and castles (Eds) The
  Welfare State Reader Cambridge. Polity p. 51-62

19

• Humanist Society of South Australia
  http//www.users.on.net/rmc/hsofsa.htm
• ABC radio National Program Background Briefing
  Soul searching about welfare 2006