C[omp]ute

From: andrew cooke <andrew@...>

Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:08:59 -0400

Review of a book by Amartya Sen -
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/book-of-the-week-the-idea-of-justice-by-amartya-sen-1774900.html

"Take three kids and a flute. Anne says the flute should be given to
her because she is the only one who knows how to play it. Bob says the
flute should be handed to him as he is so poor he has no toys to play
with. Carla says the flute is hers because it is the fruit of her own
labour. How do we decide between these three legitimate claims?"

My own answer would be that any "real" situation is more complex,
allowing a mutually-acceptable solution to be negotiated.  Perhaps
that's skipping the real problem, which is on what basis we would
place "value" in those negotiations.  But isn't that the reason for
negotiating - so that each person can use their own value system?

Andrew