This document discusses several topics related to social change and justice. [1] It summarizes a newspaper article about widening employment gaps between ethnic minorities and others in the UK. [2] It discusses a proposal to give poorer students a "head start" of two grades to help them get into top universities, which some see as positive discrimination while others argue it is unfair. [3] It briefly outlines Kant and Rawls' modern theories of justice that detach ideas of justice from moral desert and virtue.

1. Social Change in Late
Modernity
University and The Good Life
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2. “I wrote last month about the fact that over the
last 20 years the employment rate gap
between ethnic minorities and society as a
whole had widened – stated another way, the
majority of people from ethnic minorities are
worse off in terms of employment now than
they were two decades ago. I called on
government to take stronger action within its
own immediate grasp, most importantly by
ensuring that the companies they make their
billions of pounds of annual purchases from
have credibly diverse workforces.”
The Guardian, 19th October 2009
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3. Campaigners have welcomed an idea to give
poorer students a two grade "head start" to
help them get places at the leading
universities.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson is
looking at the idea, and a variety of others, to
increase social mobility.
Les Ebdon, of university think tank Million+,
said it was important to widen the social mix
in universities. ... Mr Ebdon said: "I think what
all universities are in the business of looking
for is potential among the students rather than
achievement."
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4. Katie Ivens, of the Campaign for Real
Education, said the plan was positive
discrimination.
She said: "It is not fair on those who study
hard , it is not fair on the schools that actually
produce a good quality education.
"You cannot just push people into university
because they come from a certain
background and hope that will solve the
problem."
The Guardian 9th August 2009
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5. Kant and Rawls developed modern theories
of justice that try to detach the ideas of justice
and rights from the ideas of moral desserts
and virtue.
Kant: a priori categorical imperatives lead to
principles of a fair society.
Rawls: a hypothetical contract agreed to from
behind a veil of ignorance will lead to
principles that create a fair society.
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9. Cowardice Courage Rashness
Insensibility Temperance Intemperance
Illiberality Liberality Prodigality
Pettiness Munificence Vulgarity
Humble-mindedness High-mindedness Vaingloriness
Want of Ambition Right Ambition Over-ambition
Spiritlessness Good Temper Irascibility
Surliness Friendly Civility Obsequiousness
Ironical Depreciation Sincerity Boastfulness
Boorishness Wittiness Buffoonery
Shamelessness Modesty Bashfulness
Callousness Just Resentment Spitefulness
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10. Compassion
Cooperativeness
Dependability
Fairness
Friendliness
Generosity
Loyalty
Patience
Self-discipline
Self-reliance
Tactfulness
tolerance
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11. Courage Temperance Tolerance
Justice Modesty Individuality
Temperance Piety Generosity
wisdom Obedience Patience
conformity loyalty
Faith
Hope
love
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14. Inheritance tax should only be paid by the
richest, by the millionaire, it shouldn't be paid by
people who've worked hard and done the right
thing in their lives.
We should in this country be trying to encourage
people and reward people for doing the right
thing.
And to people who are queueing up who want to
do the right thing and obey the rules, they're
being punished. That's one of the things that's
wrong in our country at the moment. We need a
different set of values, and this is not them. It
doesn't make sense.
Anna, I have every sympathy with you because,
frankly, today in our country, people who try
and work hard and save, and obey the rules,
and do the right thing.
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15. maximising welfare
respecting freedom
promoting virtue
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