Research article

They Live… and They Make Consumer Law a Poor Instrument of Distributive Justice

Article authors
  1. Szymon Osmola

Oni żyją… i czynią prawo konsumenckie słabym narzędziem sprawiedliwości dystrybutywnej

Archiwum Filozofii Prawa i Filozofii Społecznej, nr 1(26)/2021, s. 76-85

English

Abstract

Even though consumer contract law concerns voluntary agreements between private parties, it is often considered to be an instrument of the principle of distributive justice, according to which the design of social institutions should benefit the worse-off members of society. The article claims that such a view is mistaken. It appeals to the so-called status quo argument, according to which interpreting consumer law as an instrument of distributive justice may entrench the current, unjust state of affairs, and therefore compound, rather than eradicate, distributive injustice. Within that framework, consumer law is treated as the legal instantiation of consumer culture, which, even if not inherently unjust, poses several risks for individuals and their overall wellbeing. Apart from presenting the abstract argument, the article illustrates it with a vivid example from popular culture – John Carpenter’s iconic film They Live .

Keywords

  • consumer law
  • contract law
  • distributive justice
  • They Liv e
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References

23 reference entries

References

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Publication information

Author and affiliation

Szymon Osmola

European University Institute, Florence

Issue data

Issue nr 1(26)/2021

Pages
76-85
Published

How to cite

Bibliographic description and verified export formats.

Format AFPiFS

S. Osmola, They Live… and They Make Consumer Law a Poor Instrument of Distributive Justice, „Archiwum Filozofii Prawa i Filozofii Społecznej” nr 1(26)/2021, s. 76–85, DOI: 10.36280/afpifs.2021.1.76