When we ask what ought to be the relative remunerations of…
“When we ask what ought to be the relative remunerations of a nurse or a butcher, or a coal miner and a judge at a high court, of the deep sea diver of the cleaner of sewers, of the organiser of a new industry and a jockey, of the inspector of taxes and the inventor of a life-saving drug, of the jet-pilot or the professor of mathematics, the appeal to 'social justice' does not give us the slightest help in deciding.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Social justice is an insufficient basis for determining fair wages across diverse occupations.
In simple terms: Fair pay cannot be set by vague ideals alone.
Key Takeaway
Use market or productivity data to set wages.
Themes
economics
fairness
labor markets
Mood
analytical
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
policy
economic
When to use this quote
- government wage policy
- union negotiations
- career counseling
- public sector budgeting
Key Concepts
social justice
wage theory
occupational value
Questions to Reflect On
- How should society value essential but low‑paid work?
- Can fairness be measured without market signals?
A Different Perspective
Market forces may ignore essential social needs.