Capitalist Philosophers And Fundamentalist Protestants

[Borodog]

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I can't see the problem with the 'deserve' idea. I was born into reasonable affluence in a sustained period of relative peace and economic prosperity. That's lucky for me, I didn't deserve it anymore than people who are born into suffering deserve it.

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Isn't the problem with the 'deserve idea' the deserve idea? Iow, if you don't believe in a force that goes around handing out dollops of 'deserve credits', where does the idea of an objective 'deserve' grab a toe hold on reality.

That you were forunate/lucky doesn't translate into deserving or not deserving, which is a totally different concept ??? 'Deserve' seems to dictate that there are some promises or implied promises of some specific result arising from some specific act or circumstance. "I cut the lawn, I deserve to get paid."
But being born doesn't come with any of those, we're born naked and whining, and adjusting to life entails moving away from both of those conditions.
'Deserve' is a property of social contract, not an inherent property of newborns.
what am I missing?

luckyme

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Exactly. I wish I could have said this so easily.

I would only modify your example to be: "You agreed to pay me to cut the lawn. I cut the lawn. I deserve to get paid."