ABSTRACT OF PAPER
Title: Aristotle's geometrical model of distributive justice
Author:
In the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle discusses "Distributive justice in accordance with geometrical proportion:" (Book V, Ch.3). The exact nature of the geometrical model which he might have had in mind is much disputed. It seems fairly clear that it is a trapezoid where the horizontal lines represent exchange rates of one good against the other and the parallels represent two trading partners. Now, Aristotle (ibid) claims: "awards should be 'according to merit'; for all men agree that what is just in distribution must be according to merit in some sense". He thus brings in an element of unequal distribution determined by "merit". In my contribution, the Aristotelian geometrical model is interpreted in a way to link up to such a claim. The paper will show that even if the more 'meritorious' class could dictatorially determine the size of its share, self-interest should keep it from excessive use of such a power. There is a level of privileges, after which further inequality would hurt that class's own interest since their own level of well-being would decrease. There may be debate about the plausibility of such a formal geometrical model - its relations to Aristotle's general analytical approach and to conceptions of "merit" and distribution.
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