This is the last post on moral principles, as summarized by Don Berkich.
We should treat similar cases in similar ways, possibly according to the Principles of Contribution and Effort, defined as follows:
The Principle of Contribution: Everyone should benefit according to the extent to which they produce.
The Principle of Effort: Everyone should benefit according to the extent of their efforts.
Let the questions begin!
Is benefit quantifiable?
If so, how does one quantity benefit?
Is what one produces quantifiable?
If so, how does one quantify one’s products?
What/who determines the units of measurement?
What/who determines the value of a person's benefits and products?
Given that most products are the result of collective effort, how does one measure the value of each person’s contribution to a product?
Is the “extent to which they produce” the same as the “value of that which they produce”?
If not, what constitutes an “extent”? How does one measure the “extent” to which people produce?
How does one measure “effort”?
What is the relationship between effort and time?
What is the relationship between effort and difficulty?
Does past effort count towards the value of current effort? (e.g., years of study/practice)
If one expends more effort due to lack of ability, should one benefit more anyway?
If one expends less effort due to greater ability, should one benefit less?
If one expends more or less effort due to factors outside one’s control, should one benefit more or less anyway?
How does one reconcile the principles of contribution and effort?
For instance, what benefit should accrue to highly effortful activity that produces little?
Might the consistent application of these Moral Principles reduce overall well-being in society at large? If so, why might this happen and should anything be done about it?