激励与平等——评析科恩对罗尔斯差别原则中的“激励论证”的批判

Incentives and Equality ——the explanation of Cohen’s critique of “incentives” in difference principle

科恩认为差别原则意在为不平等做辩护,他从中发现一种"激励机制",认为这是建立在自私的人性基础之上的。它无法通过"人际检验",因此也违背了共同体精神。他认为差别原则只关注最不利者的绝对生活水平而非贫富间相对的差距,因此属于优先主义。尽管科恩的批判很难得到彻底的驳斥,但是财富的不平等分配并非完全基于人的自私,而是出于善观念的多元化。科恩与罗尔斯的根本分歧在于科恩认为差别原则不仅应直接作用于社会制度,还应该指导人们的行为,但对于弱者的同情不可能始终处于人类行为动机的首位,这与善观念的多元化是相矛盾的。实际上,差别原则可以有效抑制贫富分化,保障了人与人之间的关系平等。

Cohen argues that the difference principle is meant to justify inequality, and he finds an "incentive mechanism" that is based on selfish human nature. It can’t pass the "interpersonal test", so it also violates the spirit of the community. And difference principle focuses on the absolute standard of living of the ‘least advantaged’ rather than the relative gap between the rich and the poor. It is hard to give comprehensive refutation of the critique of Cohen.However, the unequal distribution of wealth is not due to selfish human nature,but due to the diverse ideas of goodness. The fundamental difference between Cohen and Rawls is that Cohen argues that difference principle should not only apply to the social structure,but also guide people’s behavior. However, the sympathy for the poor cannot always be the first motive of human behavior because of its paradoxical to pluralism of goodness. In fact, principle of difference could narrow the gap between the rich and the poor and guarantee the equality of relations between individuals.