The utilitarian contract: A generalization of Rawls' theory of justice

In a series of major papers culminating in A Theory of Justice, John Rawls constructs an alternative to utilitarianism by developing a social contract theory of moral and political philosophy. Unfortunately, Rawls formulates the two basic principles upon which the theory rests in such a way as to restrict (unduly) the contract theory's applicability (see Section I). In this paper we present a more general discussion of the theory of justice that avoids the problems of Rawls' formulation and yet retains the important idea of justice as fairness and the contractarian approach (Section II). Later it is argued that this more general theory constitutes a bridge between the pure utilitarian theories and the social contract doctrines (Sections V and VI). The theory's advantages are demonstrated by applying it to a problem discussed by Rawls, intergenerational equity, and comparing the two solutions (Section III). Further comparisons are made and inferences drawn in the concluding three sections.Without implicating them, we would like to thank James M. Buchanan and David Lyons for comments on an earlier draft of this paper.

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止于正义与超越正义——慈继伟正义观述评

正义之所以为正义而有别于纯粹利他主义和纯粹利己主义之处在于:正义的条件性,即一个人遵守正义之规范以他人对正义的遵守为前提和条件,正义不是最高,但是最好。同时,作为道德命令,正义又必须是无条件的,即每个人都必须把正义作为义务而绝对遵守,不论其他人是否也能做到。条件性和无条件性同为正义的两面。这样矛盾着的两个方面得以并存有赖于条件性的转移和超越。只有高于正义,才能实现正义。慈继伟在《正义的两面》一书中所表达的这一正义观,对推进当前中国的道德建设具有启发意义。     

能源法制建设若干问题思考

能源是人类社会发展进步的物质基础,而中国的能源立法明显滞后。中国能源法制建设中应当把煤炭作为中国能源安全的基石、改革能源管理体制、构建完备的能源法体系。     

论夏洛蒂·勃朗特对女性文学出路的探索--以《教师》为例

夏洛蒂·勃朗特的作品着力探讨女性问题,其鲜明的主观性和强烈的反抗意识为读者和评论界所瞩目。然而,在当时的社会中,传统观念规范着女人的形象,传统的文学模式规范着女性的写作。处身于男性为中心的小说话语中,勃朗特不可避免地会产生作者身份的焦虑。因此,在她的作品中更多的是自我隐匿而不是自我表现。     

On the existence of stable states in game problems

Each individual or group of individuals unified by some common interests often have to either accept an offer or reject it. The choice is made on the basis of not only individual or group preferences but on the basis of the reaction to this choice by other people whose preferences are dependent to some extent on this choice. The following question is to be answered: under what conditions is an offer stable, i.e. will it be accepted by each participant in a group with non-coincident interests? To answer this question is to specify in the set of all feasible offers (options or situations) those ones which would be rejected by no participant. According to this intuitive understanding of stable offers a sequence of weak and strong equilibria referred to as active equilibria was defined. A weak equilibrium satisfies the following conditions: (1) It defines stable situations which cannot be changed by a participant because of certain retaliatory actions by the other participants, which would worsen his initial situation. (2) It always exists. (3) Under comparatively wide conditions it has a non-empty intersection with the Pareto set. (4) It includes non-cooperative equilibria well known in the game theory and does not lead to any paradoxes (as, for example, the Nash equilibrium does). These conditions, and especially the third and fourth ones, indicate that the active equilibria can be successfully used in the game theory as well. Strong equilibria define a more stable situation but they do not necessarily meet all four conditions listed above.     

Epidemical spread of scientific objects: An attempt of empirical approach to some problems of meta-science

The paper deals with problems of prediction of spreading out of scientific objects, such as theories, hypotheses, methods etc. Two models for predicting changes in number of publications dealing with the given subjects in consecutive years are suggested; these models are based on the theory of epidemics.     

国民素质均衡发展基本问题探析

人对自身力量的个性特征最均衡培养,是人生的最高和最终目的。由此,提出国民素质均衡发展概念,其核心内容是:素质结构与分布,相互生成、相互促进并产生自我均衡发展效应的良好态势;具有主动性与自为性、整体效应性和发展性、历史文化继承性和时代政治性及协调性和非协调性等基本特征;建构人与自然、人与社会、人与人和人与自我和谐性素质结构的同时,强调提高国民对和谐素质观念内化能力。     

Complex home care: challenges arising from the blurring of boundaries between family and professional care

Over the last 50 years, increasingly complex care (such as tracheostomy management, dialysis or enteral feeding) has shifted from hospital to home, with a concomitant rise in patient self-management and care given by family members. Recognition of the importance of the contribution of family care to the health system is also growing. This article reports the findings of a New Zealand study which explored the experiences of family carers who manage technical health procedures at home. It then draws attention to some broader issues raised by shifting complex care from professional management in hospital settings to family care at home, namely the ways in which complex home care blurs the boundaries between professional and family care (creating the ambiguous position of the expert carer) and questions of safety and responsibility in family care. We also discuss the implications for policy around family caregiving in New Zealand. Given the potential physical and mental health impacts of caring, it is time for renewed consideration of what family carers should be expected or allowed to manage and how the health system can support them in their important role.     

The 'best interests of the child' thesis: some thoughts from Australia

In the 36 years since the 1973 publication of ' Beyond the Best Interests of the Child ' by Goldstein, Freud and Solnit, the phase 'the best interests of the child' has achieved biblical standing and is now embedded in childcare and protection legislation worldwide. It also resonates through clinical reports and other materials that form the basis for proceedings in Children's Courts and in Family Law Courts. Such is the power of the phrase that it is to be found in Article 18 of the Convention on the Rights of Children that was adopted by the United Nations in September 1989. In 1996, Goldstein, Solnit and Goldstein, with Freud, indicated a preference for the phrase 'least detrimental alternative' rather than 'the best interests of the child'. For this reason, and because the world in 2009 is a far different place from that which existed 36 years ago, we think it is time to re-examine this classic phrase both in terms of its underlying thesis and how it is used in present-day childcare and protection proceedings and practice.     

The 'best interests of the child' thesis: some thoughts from Australia

In the 36 years since the 1973 publication of ' Beyond the Best Interests of the Child ' by Goldstein, Freud and Solnit, the phase 'the best interests of the child' has achieved biblical standing and is now embedded in childcare and protection legislation worldwide. It also resonates through clinical reports and other materials that form the basis for proceedings in Children's Courts and in Family Law Courts. Such is the power of the phrase that it is to be found in Article 18 of the Convention on the Rights of Children that was adopted by the United Nations in September 1989. In 1996, Goldstein, Solnit and Goldstein, with Freud, indicated a preference for the phrase 'least detrimental alternative' rather than 'the best interests of the child'. For this reason, and because the world in 2009 is a far different place from that which existed 36 years ago, we think it is time to re-examine this classic phrase both in terms of its underlying thesis and how it is used in present-day childcare and protection proceedings and practice.     

伪北京大学教授群体的来源与后方学界的回应

1938年初,由汉奸傀儡政权"中华民国临时政府"主持组建起来的伪北京大学成立.在近8年的办学过程中,伪北大的教授群体来源较为复杂.多数教授是抗战期间滞留在北平的学人,也有一些是由外地的大学教员或工厂技术人员来充任,甚至还有一些直接是由日本军方调配而来.虽然多数教授加入伪北大阵营是为生活所迫,但也确有少数学人抛弃了民族气节心甘情愿依附敌伪政权而加入其中.内迁至后方的学界中人对伪北大教授群体的反应两极,他们多坚持民族大义而对之颇有反感之意,但对那些确因生活所迫而进入伪北大服务者,也表示出了相当大的同情.     

作为一种法律权利的社会福利权及其限度——公民身份理论视野下的社会公平正义之省察

作为公民身份的要素之一,社会福利权利必须以法律的形式加以确认,而作为法律权利的社会福利权利,是公民的公民权与政治权的根本保障,从而也是实现自由基础上的平等的根本制度保障。社会福利可以分为积极福利与消极福利。通过社会福利权的形式,自由主义的公民身份能够把自由与平等统一起来。作为一种实在权利与积极权利,社会福利权的落实不能侵犯到公民的自然权利与消极权利,也不能以牺牲他人的社会福利权为代价。     

On some multiattribute value function generalizations of the EOQ model in the context of personal inventory decisions

By personal inventory decisions we mean the decisions on quantity purchased which are made daily in such activities as grocery shopping. This topic has previously been introduced only at the conceptual level. Hence our main purpose is to provide a quantitative discussion. Some specific models are pursued to solution. Surprisingly, a conjoint value function aggregator leads to indifference in replenishment quantity. Contrasts to the EOQ assumptions are highlighted.     

政治实践科学化：马克思主义政治哲学理论创新的时代主题——评刘吉发教授的《政治实践论》

人类社会的政治存在决定着人类社会的政治意识,人类社会的政治意识随着人类社会政治存在的产生而产生,又随着人类社会政治存在的发展而发展。人类社会政治意识的历史发展,先后经历了心理型政治意识和思想型政治意识两个历史阶段,从而进到了人类社会政治意识的逻辑层面，亦即形成了逻辑化、系统化的政治意识。     

On some aspects of decision theory under uncertainty: rationality,price-probabilities and the Dutch book argument

Theory and Decision - Choice under uncertainty is treated in economics by different approaches. We can distinguish three of them, two of which concern individual choice, while the third frames...     

从偏差到“体现”:对“残障”意义的社会学理解

残障不仅是一种生理现象,也可被理解为一种社会经验.为了反抗残障的生物医学话语,社会学内部诸多理论传统通过不同的研究范式来解释残障现象.本文理清和呈现不同理论传统中“残障”的不同意义,提出残障概念的四个理论面向:社会偏差、社会压迫、日常经验以及身体“体现”,具体分析这四类理论面向产生的背景、基本论述及内部的差异性表述,评述其解释力及其局限性,旨在通过系统的梳理社会学视角下残障研究的理论脉络,了解西方语境下残障的社会学意义,为中国残障研究的开展和本土残障理论的建构提供借鉴.     

若干经济问题的思考--在甘肃"资本市场建构与区域经济发展研讨会"上的发言

本文对若干经济问题的探讨 ,对资本市场建构与区城经济发展有重要参考价值。     

Latin America's recovery from debt problems: An assessment of model-based projections

This paper examines economic assumptions used in assessing prospective economic adjustment of Latin America in response to its debt problems. The analysis compares forecasts obtained by combining parameter estimates from different researchers' trade models with the authors' macroeconomic models for Brazil. Chile, and Mexico. The influence of econometric procedure on simulation results is discussed. Then, by simulation analysis, the following issues are addressed: (1) likelihood of high domestic growth rates for Latin America in the late 1980s; (2) whether OECD growth or interest rates have a larger impact on developing-country economies; (3) effects of dollar depreciation and high interest rates on Latin America's debt problems.