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SOC 331 Week 2 DQ 2 Justice and Socio-Economic Class
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In Chapter 2 of the textbook, the author describes meanings for the
concept of socio-economic class and analyzes how perceptions of justice
may be influenced by class distinctions in American society (see Section
2.4). He also references the related views of two provocative and
thought-provoking contemporary scholars. Robert H. Frank provides an
economic analysis, and Charles Murray offers a socio-cultural
interpretation. In this discussion, you will summarize the perspective of
one ofthese scholars and evaluate its relevance to understanding how
class influences beliefs about justice. Review the questions below and
select one (only one) of these scholars as the focus of your initial post.
a. Robert H. Frank. Debates about distributive justice among economic
classes often characterize the outlook of the rich as libertarian, the views
of the poor as egalitarian, and the perspective of the middle-class as
utilitarian. This over-simplified framework may translate into conflicting
ideologies about the role of government in achieving economic justice.
On one extreme are libertarian proponents of the free market and on the
other extreme are egalitarian proponents of socialism. In the middle are
a variety of “mixed” approaches to the role of government in the
economy that promote utilitarian concepts of distributive justice – the
greatest good for the greatest possible number of people. Cornell
University economist Robert Frank, in his recent provocative book, The
Darwin Economy: Liberty, Competition, and the Common Good, rejects
– but not completely – both the libertarian and egalitarian extremes.
Instead, he advocates a new role for government that encourages
individuals toward self-interested economic behavior that also advances
the economic welfare of all members of the community. In your initial
post, summarize Frank’s arguments – both his criticism of the libertarian
and egalitarian extremes. Then, analyze his proposals on how to achieve
greater economic justice for the whole community. Finally, evaluate the

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relevance or usefulness of his views for understanding how economic
class differences may influence perceptions of distributive justice. Do
you think his views may be appreciated as just by rich people? Poor
people? Middle-class people? Explain your conclusion. To help you
successfully complete this discussion, review the following resources in
the order they are listed:
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§ Darwin, the market whiz
§ Robert Frank on “the Darwin economy”
§ Robert Frank: “The Darwin economy: Liberty, competition, and the
common good” [Radio broadcast]
b. Charles Murray. Commutative justice rests on a shared
understanding of the rights and responsibilities of all parties to the basic
social contract that holds a society together. On one level, the U.S.
Constitution might be characterized as part of the social contract on
which the American political system is based. But on a deeper, more
fundamental, level, the social contract includes shared values which
shape our expectations of others and ourselves with respect to morality,
culture, self-reliance, and collective responsibility. Charles Murray, a
political scientist at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, calls
into question the relevance of the social contract which he sees as the
source of “the founding virtues” on which American civic life depends.
In his recent provocative book,Coming Apart: The State of White
America, 1960-2010,he argues that “Our nation is coming apart at the
seams” – “not ethnic seams, but the seams of class” (Confessore, 2012).
He focuses on what he sees as the social and moral collapse of the white
working class and the growing cultural gap between them and the white
upper class. In your initial post, summarize Murray’s description of the
white working class and the white upper class. Also, analyze the basis

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for his pessimistic outlook about government’s ability to solve this
problem and re-invigorate America’s social contract. Finally, evaluate
the relevance or usefulness of his views for understanding how socio-
economic class differences may influence perceptions of commutative
justice. Do the white working class and the white upper class no longer
have a shared understanding of the rights and responsibilities of the
basic social contract? Explain your conclusion. To help you successfully
complete this discussion, review the following resources in the order
they are listed:
§ Tramps like them: Charles Murray examines the white working class
in ‘Coming Apart’
§ Can the working class be saved?
§ Charles Murray on white America [Radio broadcast]
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