Deservitor

Deservitor is a term used in moral and political philosophy to denote an agent who is judged to deserve a particular outcome—such as reward or punishment—on the basis of their actions, character, or circumstances. The concept is associated with desert or merit theories in distributive justice, which argue that distributions should reflect what individuals deserve rather than being determined solely by need or equality. In discussions that employ the term, a deservitor is contrasted with others who would receive benefits regardless of desert, or with those who do not meet desert criteria.

Etymology and usage: Deservitor is a neologism formed from deserve with the agent-noun suffix -itor. It is not as common as phrases like “deserving person” or “deserver,” and some writers prefer those alternatives. The precise definition of desert criteria—such as effort, contribution, moral worth, or circumstantial factors—varies across theories and contexts.

Role in theory: The designation of someone as a deservitor is intended to justify why they should receive a specific outcome or why they should be exempt from burdens. In practice, applying desert criteria raises questions about moral luck, fairness, and the reliability of judgments about past actions. Critics argue that desert reasoning can legitimize inequality or overlook duties others bear, especially when information is incomplete or biased.

See also: Desert (philosophy), distributive justice, meritocracy, moral luck, entitlement. The term remains a relatively niche coinage rather than a standard category in most philosophical discussions.