Benjamin Ferguson: Exploitation's Grounding Problem

The Research Seminar Series in Philosophy invites you to a seminar with Benjamin Ferguson, University of Warwick, "Exploitation's Grounding Problem".

Abstract: Standard accounts of what makes exploitation wrong ground its wrong in distributive unfairness. That is, when A exploits B he wrongs her by taking a greater share of the benefits from their interaction than he ought. I argue that this standard account does not succeed; exploitation's wrong cannot be grounded on distributive unfairness. I assume that distributive unfairness is pro tanto wrong.  However, I argue that in situations where transactors' consent to a transaction is morally valid, it is also morally transformative and overrides distributive unfairness's pro tanto wrong. Thus, wrongful exploitation requires morally  invalid consent. I then argue that the consent given in many paradigmatic cases of exploitation is, in fact, morally valid. Consequently, many paradigmatic exploitations are not morally wrong.

All interested are welcome to participate in this seminar.

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