December 12, 2022
2023 Autumn Admission for Eikei University of Hiroshima(Selection of International Students/
Integrated Selection of Japanese Students in English)
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Short Essay Question
The following passages from Julian Baggini’s 2005 book The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten: And 99
Other Thought Experiments present the idea of ‘Fair Inequality’. There are different positions in thesepassages, and each position has its own supporting arguments. Read the passages and respond to thequestion.

John and Margaret went shopping to buy Christmas presents for their three sons:
Matthew, aged fourteen, Mark, who is twelve, and Luke, ten. The loving parents always
tried to treat their children equally. This year, they had budgeted to spend £100 on eachof them.
For once it looked as if their shopping would be trouble free, for they soon found
what they were looking for: handheld PlayBoy games consuls* at £100 each. Just as
they were about to take three to the checkout, John noticed a special offer. If you bought
two of the new, top of the range PlayBoyPlusMax consuls* at £150 each, you would getan original PlayBoy free. They could spend the same amount of money and get superior
goods.
'We can't do that,' said Margaret. 'That would be unfair, since one of the boys would
be getting less than the others.''But Margaret,' said John, excited at the thought of borrowing his sons' new toys,'how can it be unfair? This way none of them gets a worse gift than he would have done,
and two of them do better. But if we don't take the offer, two of the kids are worse off
than they would otherwise be.''I want them all to be equal,' replied Margaret.
'Even if it means making them worse off?'
Source: A Theory of Justice by John Rawls (Harvard University Press, 1971)
Many hold equality to be desirable, but few now accept that equality is to be pursued at
all cost. This is because there seems to be something wilfully perverse about achieving
equality by levelling down. We could easily make everyone equal simply by making
everyone as poor as the poorest person in society. But that seems obviously to be afoolish thing to do because it doesn't help anyone. The poorest remain just as poor asthey were and everyone else is harmed.
However, just because we accept that it may not always be worthwhile to impose
equality, that doesn't mean we should simply accept all inequality without question.
What we need to ask is when inequality is acceptable. John's explanation to Margaret
about why they should treat their sons differently provides one answer. Inequality is
Short Essay Question Eikei University of Hiroshima for 2023 Autumn Admissions(Selection of International Students/Integrated Selection of Japanese Students in English) -Second Window-1

December 12, 2022
permitted when no one is worse off as a result, but some people are better off.
This is very similar to what the political philosopher John Rawls called the'difference principle'. In essence, this says that inequalities are permitted only if they areto the benefit of the least well off. However, it is not clear whether this applies toMatthew, Mark and Luke. Under the original gift plan, they form a classless
microsociety in which each is the best and worst off. The plan to get thePlayBoyPlusMax deal does indeed make two of the least well off better off, but it is nohelp at all to the other one. So is it true to say that the plan is to the benefit of the least
well off as a whole?
Of course, there are important differences when the principle is applied in thepolitical and familial arenas. In society at large, John's argument seems intuitivelypersuasive. Within families, however, there may be reasons to place a higher priority on
equality, since in very small groups, inequalities are felt more keenly and can lead totensions.
This same consideration, however, does extend to the political domain. For one
reason to be against inequality is precisely the effect it has on social cohesion and theself-esteem of the poor. As social psychologists have pointed out, even thoughmaterially people are no worse off if their neighbours get rich at no financial cost tothemselves, psychologically they can be harmed by their increased awareness of thewealth gap between them. Seeing equality and inequality solely in material terms could
thus be a terrible mistake, both in politics and in families.
Julian Baggini. (2005). The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten: And 99 Other Thought Experiments (p.
259-261). Granta*The original text used “consuls,” but this can be clarified as “consoles.”Question
The above story poses a simple hypothetical case of inequality, but there are many actual inequalities
in societies around the world. In each context, some of these inequalities may be considered fair, whileothers may be considered unfair. Introduce one real inequality relevant to the area or community inwhich you live or belong and discuss its fairness or unfairness.
You may prepare the essay according to the "Detailed Instructions" on the next page.

Short Essay Question Eikei University of Hiroshima for 2023 Autumn Admissions(Selection of International Students/Integrated Selection of Japanese Students in English) -Second Window-2

December 12, 2022
Detailed Instructions‑ The following is a model outline for your essay. Include each element in the order indicated here.
Note that section titles for these elements are not required.
‑ The length of the essay must be within two A4-size pages with 12pt font in the university template(not counting the list of references).
Elements
Introduction

Contents and points of preparation
Explain the subject or purpose of your essay and indicate what you
will be discussing.

1）Explanation of the Provide the necessary background and current status of the issue you
relevant issue in your are addressing, supported by data and examples.
area or community2）Comparison of more Explain a comparison of more than one different position/opinion andthan one position on an their respective arguments on the issues discussed in 1).
issue3）Your own ideas about Express your ideas on the issue discussed in 1) and your ideas on thepositions/opinions and arguments discussed in 2).
the issue
Conclusion

Summarize your entire essay by reflecting on the subject or purpose
you set forth in the Introduction.
Do not include new data or assertions in the conclusion.

References

List any references, documents, websites, etc. that you have cited.
You do not need to follow a specific style guide, but please present thelist of references in a consistent manner.

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December 12, 2022
Evaluation Criteria
The University will evaluate essays based on the following criteria.
Items
What We Evaluate

BasicRequirements

Admission Policy

・ Is the essay within the specified pagelimit?
・ Is the designated form used?
・ Does the essay follow the assignment instructions?
・ Is it written in an easy-to-read stylewith appropriate grammar andspelling?

・ Does the essay provide appropriate
cases related to the issue and explain· Broad vision
the situation and issues using· Strong interest in inquiring about
Attitudes andappropriate materials?
various cultures, histories, societiesPerspectives
・ Does the essay provide more than one
both at home and abroad, anddifferent perspective and appropriatelyinternational relations
compared the opinions and argumentsof each side?
· Basic academic skills· Willingness to learn
Academic・ Does the essay express their own ideas
Abilities andbased on different positions and · Positive attitude toward studying
with a sense of purpose and a vision
Their
viewpoints?
for the future
Expression
・ Is the essay logical and persuasive?
· Positive attitude toward actively
communicating with others

Motivation· Willingness to strengthen one’s・ Does the essay express an appropriate
abilityunderstanding of the problems that· Willingness to contribute to society
exist in society and an attitude of facing· Positive attitude toward takingand tackling them as one's own
initiative and involving others inpersonal matter?
addressing various challenges

Others・ Originality and creativity-Short Essay Question Eikei University of Hiroshima for 2023 Autumn Admissions(Selection of International Students/Integrated Selection of Japanese Students in English) -Second Window-4