justice

Law

2022

We explain what justice is, its types, characteristics and why it is a value. Plus examples, social justice, equity and more.

Justice is symbolized by the statue of the Greek goddess Themis

What is justice?

Justice is thevirtue to give each one his due. It is a term that comes from the Latin wordiustitia and that has different meanings according to theculture, the values own of eachcommunity and the scope of the term.

Within the judicial sphere, this concept is used to refer to the rules andrules that condition the actions of the persons and institutions and that are usually formulated and put in writing by the members of the legislative power of each district.

The word "justice" is also used to refer to thepower of attorney, one of the three powers ofCondition.

See also:Universal values

Justice as value

Justice is one of the values fundamentals of the human being, through it it is sought that each individual receives what belongs to him regardless of his conditions, which implies full recognition and respect for the human rights. Justice puts each individual in the place they deserve, without discrimination and respecting their individual freedoms.

It is the basis of many other virtues, which is why it is considered the universal virtue par excellence that must be instilled in the individual in early childhood and throughout life.

All society must be based on justice, unjust acts violate the rights of the person by taking away Liberty. It is important that individuals and society as a whole fight against the injustices that can occur in areas such as social, work, family, among many others.

Types of justice

Within a society there are different types of justice that regulate interactions between members. Are:

  • Distributive justice. Seeks the fair distribution of goods and resources within a society to guarantee well-being and a dignified life to all citizens.
  • Procedural justice. Seeks the imposition and subsequent compliance with the rules by all members of a society, without distinction or privileges of any kind.
  • Retributive justice. It seeks that individuals are treated in the same way that they treat others, so that any person who inflicts harm on another will have a sanction or punishment.
  • Restorative justice. It seeks to remedy the damage caused by a third party to a particular individual with a view to recovering their well-being.

Characteristics of justice

  • It is a virtue or human quality.
  • Look for the common good.
  • Seeks to guarantee order and peace in a society.
  • It assumes equality before law.
  • It can be explained from different points of view.
  • It has a cultural foundation (according to social consensus) and a formal foundation (according to codified norms).
  • It is not arbitrary.
  • Act fairly.

Examples of justice

The term "justice" is also used to refer to the judiciary.

  • The man is in prison serving his sentence for the museum robbery.
  • The student was suspended from school for fighting with her classmates.
  • Each neighbor will have to pay for the amount of gas they consume this month.
  • All students will have the same amount of time to solve the exam.
  • Police arrested the man who broke the facade of the premises.
  • The student did not study for the exam and failed it.
  • At the end of the month I will collect the salary for the work done in the factory.
  • All citizens must pay their taxes.
  • With my brothers we divided equally the prize of the raffle that we won.
  • All residents have the right to access the building's facilities.

Justice and fairness

Justice and equity They are closely related concepts, since equity is the ability to impart justice while respecting the particularities or specific circumstances of each individual at a given time. Equity allows to regulate behaviors and situations in a fair and equitable way.

Equity does not imply giving everyone the same, but giving each one what is due, which is the definition of justice, that is why it is also said that equity is one of the ways in which justice is manifested.

For example: gender equality It supposes a fair treatment between men and women, that respects their conditions and individualities.

Justice in philosophy

Justice is a theme that various thinkers addressed throughout thehistory:

  • Socrates (470 BC - 399 BC). Enough the knowledge of the right thing to do as it is due.
  • Plato (427 BC - 347 BC). Justice is the harmony of society.
  • Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC). Justice is the equality proportional, which means giving everyone what is due, and that has to do with their needs, contributions to society and their own merits.
  • Saint Thomas Aquinas (1224 - 1274). Justice is a natural law, that is, granted by God.
  • Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677). It is just the one who has a Will constant giving to each his own, and unjust he who strives to make his own what belongs to another.
  • Gottfried Leibniz (1646-1716). When the individual puts himself in the place of the other, he will be able to be in the true point of view to judge what is fair and what is not.

What is social justice?

Social justice seeks equal opportunities for all individuals.

The social justice refers to a balanced distribution of assets within a community so that there is aequal opportunitys for each and every individual. This concept arises in the nineteenth century with the appearance of societies capitalists in which labor claims and social unrest increased.

The goal of social justice is to seek the common benefit and guarantee access to all population to education, the Health, a home and a job. It is based on respect for basic human rights, to achieve a more equitable society and with opportunities for growth and development for all, which ends the inequalities and the poverty.

The symbol of justice

Justice is represented by a scale, which means the fair, balanced and exact treatment of each fact or situation.

It is also represented by the statue of justice, which was inspired by the Greek goddess Themis and which symbolizes order, oaths, justice and fairness.

Themis is blindfolded, which means that justice is impartial and makes no difference. He holds the balance in one hand and a sword in the other, a symbol of the punishment that will be imposed on those who do not comply with what is just.

Follow with: Fundamental rights

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