Justice
Topic: Equality and Social Justice · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 4 "Social Justice"
Meaning
Justice is the set of principles by which public life is ordered. It decides how the good things and the duties of society are shared out among its members. We understand it by instinct, as we understand love. But unlike love, justice concerns society as a whole. Its oldest core idea is giving each person his due. Since Kant, this has meant respecting every person's dignity, which means giving them the chance to develop their talents and pursue their goals. Mill described justice as what a person can claim from us as a moral right.
Example
Indian laws such as the NFSA 2013 (food), the RTE Act 2009 (schooling) and reservation under Arts. 15(4) and 16(4) are attempts to share out goods and opportunities justly.
Don't confuse with
- Equality: equality says everyone has equal worth. Justice decides how goods and burdens should be shared. It may treat people equally, in proportion to effort, or according to need.
Related concepts
- Dharma as justice
- Confucian idea of justice
- Glaucon's view of justice
- Plato's theory of justice
- Giving each person his due