Disadvantage, Disagreement, and Disability: Re-evaluating the Continuity Test

Begon, Jessica

Abstract

The suggestion that individuals should be considered disadvantaged, and consequently entitled to compensation, only if they consider themselves disadvantaged (Dworkin’s ‘continuity test’) is initially appealing. However, it also faces problems. First, if individuals are routinely mistaken, then we routinely fail to assist the deserving. Second, if individuals assess their circumstances differently then the state will provide different levels of assistance to people in identical situations. Thus, should we instead ignore individuals’ convictions and provide assistance that some, at least, do not feel they need? One set of cases where this dilemma is salient are those in which disabled individuals disagree over whether they are disadvantaged. Focussing on these, I argue that despite objections, individuals should have a voice in determining whether they are disadvantaged. However, I contend that our goal should not be ensuring continuity with individuals’ ethical convictions (concerning the pursuits they deem worthwhile or valuable), but their convictions regarding whether they are relevantly disadvantaged (whether they have what they are entitled to).

Citation

Begon, J. (in press). Disadvantage, Disagreement, and Disability: Re-evaluating the Continuity Test. Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy, https://doi.org/10.1080/13698230.2021.1972585

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 18, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Sep 14, 2021
• Deposit Date: Sep 3, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 10, 2022
• Journal: Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy
• Print ISSN: 1369-8230
• Electronic ISSN: 1743-8772
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13698230.2021.1972585
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1235848
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/fcri20/current