Something that would have been a little off topic in my prison thread, I was wondering what your opinions are on this question. Keeping in mind that arguably no one has ever satisfactorily defined it: What is Justice?
A nebulous concept that is tough to apply but one that is necessary to handle those who don't follow an accepted moral code.
"There is no such thing as justice - in or out of courts." Clarence Darrow So i m o, "justice will not be served until those who are unaffected become as outraged as those who are." Benjamin Franklin
Justice is everything that pleases me. Injustice is everything that annoys me. (This is probably the most egocentric thing I've ever written)
Justice is when those in power, maintain their way. Injustice is when those not in power, want a way. Now, a way of what? Well, that depends on the individual, really.
Justice is just a word some person came up with, to describe what the masses do to individuals who don't abide by a certain predetermined social code of conduct. So my neighbor gets to drive around town in his expensive car, with all the windows tinted (which is illegal), yet i can't, since i drive a 20 year old car... Where is the justice in that? Shouldn't the law be the same for all? And considering that fabrically tinted windows are okay, what harm does it do when i tint my own windows? And it's not to a degree, they forbid all tint, even basic UV ray protection... Yet i can get in trouble for not having a new expensive car, and that other guy can't since he drives something flashy. So is it justifiable to punish me, and not him?
I think of justice similar to karma. If you are a good person and do good things and then something good happens to you. That's justice If you're a horrible person who does horriblé things and then something awful happens to you, that's justice
Justice is a state of orderly* societal affairs in which ethical outcomes are predictable. People who do good things are rewarded. People who do bad things are reprimanded or excluded from society's institutions. Remedies exist and are of equal opportunity for all to avail so that they can seek redress of grievances and so that they can better themselves. Justice therefore entails more than simply the security of the person. Justice entails affirmative access to resources. Justice entails access to health care. To career training and education. To economic safety in times of unpredictable disaster or hardship. * The sense in which I'm using "orderly" implies a process but does not imply a legal regime.
