Sufficientarianism and Threshold Principles¶

Why It Matters¶

Focuses attention on absolute deprivation rather than relative position. Provides stopping point for redistribution - once everyone has enough, further equality may not be required. But requires defining and defending "enough."

The Key Move¶

For distributive questions, ask: Is anyone below the sufficiency threshold (lacking basic needs, capabilities, or opportunities)? If yes, priority is bringing them above threshold. If everyone is above threshold, inequality may be acceptable even if large.

Classic Application¶

Human rights frameworks. Everyone entitled to minimum set of rights, opportunities, resources. Violations occur when people fall below threshold, not whenever inequality exists. Extreme wealth doesn't violate rights if everyone has enough.

Surprising Application¶

Technical skill requirements for team membership. Sufficiency view: Everyone needs minimum competency; beyond that, inequality in skill is acceptable. Not everyone needs to be equally expert, but everyone needs baseline capability to contribute.

Failure Modes¶

• Setting threshold arbitrarily low to avoid redistribution obligations
• Ignoring that "enough" is context-dependent and changes with social conditions
• Treating sufficiency as fixed when it may be relative to typical standards
• Assuming above-threshold inequality has no effects on below-threshold group

Go Deeper¶

Frankfurt, "Equality as a Moral Ideal" (1987); Anderson, "What is the Point of Equality?" on democratic equality as sufficiency.