AIM Framework glossary
Fairness
Canonical definition
Fairness is the refusal to prefer one Individual's motivational claims over another's on the basis of who they are, their Status, or the Salience of their wanting. Fairness is not a refusal to prefer Appetites and Intrinsic Motivation over Mimetic Desire.
Explanation
Fairness is a rule about Individuals, not about sources. Two Individuals want, and Fairness refuses to rank one Individual's wanting above the other's because of who they are, their Status, or the Salience of the wanting. An Appetitive claim still outranks a Mimetic claim, including when the Mimetic claim belongs to the Individual of higher Salience. Equality names the conditions that refusal requires: guaranteed Appetitive Floors, real access to Intrinsic domains, and protection from status-crushing Mimetic escalation. Fairness is the refusal itself.
Epistemic status
Framework-Specific Construct (normative).
Derivation
Also in the entry
Distinction from Equality. Equality is the equal conditions. Fairness is the interpersonal refusal that assigns those conditions without ranking Individuals.