Defining Justice
What Does Justice Mean?
Define and discuss the meaning of justice.
Introduction
You have just begun a lesson on justice. But what is justice, anyway? Justice can have many aspects and contexts. When people think of justice, they may think of different things—the court system, crime and punishment, laws, ethics, social justice, environmental justice, civil rights, economic opportunity, etc.
For this lesson, we will use the definition of justice below. Read the definition and reflect on the discussion points that follow.
Definition of Justice
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Behavior or treatment in accordance to what is morally right and fair.
Discuss
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How does this definition compare with your definition?
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One aspect of justice is how to “correct” past injustice. In fact, this is largely what our justice system is intended to do—decide what remedies victims should receive and what penalties offenders should face.
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Think about the justice system. The government expends a lot of effort and resources to maintain it. Why? What is its value to society? More generally, what is the role and value of justice in society?
