Justices in Society
William D. Towah
Doctoral Candidate
Walden University
Justices in Society
Ideally, any decision or action taken by an individual or a group is either justified or unjustified within the context of justice. Accordingly, justice is generally determined by the society or norm; however, norm changes from society to society. Therefore, in some instances what appeared to be just in one society may not necessarily be just in another. Justice can be viewed in two special ways, individual justice and social justice. Individual justice has to do with one’s moral behavior on issues involving goods or property; for instances, it is just for someone not to steal. Social justice refers to group justice or justice of institutions or of society. For example, it is said to be just when economic benefits are distributed to group members in accordance to the standard economic framework of that society. Nonetheless, a review of the literature unravels contrasting among intellectuals on varying perceptions of justice (Distributive Justice and Justice as a Virtue).
This type of high emotional contrasting views of justice is apparent when dealing with Gay Marriage. In his 2013 World Day Peace address, Pope Benedict XVI announced that gay marriage constitutes a threat to justice and peace. He maintained that marriage represent natural structure as a union of a man and a woman, therefore the move by certain interest to equate this to same sex marriage is an abominable act that is in contrast to the true nature of man, as such, it presents serious damage to justice and serenity (Threat to Justice and Peace).
In lieu of evidence of the literature reviewed above in relation to how justice is viewed by the various intellectual communities, the pope’s statement undoubtedly presents a compelling debate. As regarding ongoing argument on gay marriage, others view is that justice is best served when marriages, gay or otherwise are treated equally before the law. This therefore gives
Doctoral Candidate
Walden University
Justices in Society
Ideally, any decision or action taken by an individual or a group is either justified or unjustified within the context of justice. Accordingly, justice is generally determined by the society or norm; however, norm changes from society to society. Therefore, in some instances what appeared to be just in one society may not necessarily be just in another. Justice can be viewed in two special ways, individual justice and social justice. Individual justice has to do with one’s moral behavior on issues involving goods or property; for instances, it is just for someone not to steal. Social justice refers to group justice or justice of institutions or of society. For example, it is said to be just when economic benefits are distributed to group members in accordance to the standard economic framework of that society. Nonetheless, a review of the literature unravels contrasting among intellectuals on varying perceptions of justice (Distributive Justice and Justice as a Virtue).
This type of high emotional contrasting views of justice is apparent when dealing with Gay Marriage. In his 2013 World Day Peace address, Pope Benedict XVI announced that gay marriage constitutes a threat to justice and peace. He maintained that marriage represent natural structure as a union of a man and a woman, therefore the move by certain interest to equate this to same sex marriage is an abominable act that is in contrast to the true nature of man, as such, it presents serious damage to justice and serenity (Threat to Justice and Peace).
In lieu of evidence of the literature reviewed above in relation to how justice is viewed by the various intellectual communities, the pope’s statement undoubtedly presents a compelling debate. As regarding ongoing argument on gay marriage, others view is that justice is best served when marriages, gay or otherwise are treated equally before the law. This therefore gives