what is social justice? Creating a Just State

1. 10 what is social justice? Creating a Just State

2. Can we create a just society?  This mural depicts the history of Mexico and its struggles to create a just society in the face of brutal European forces and internal turmoil. The issues of human rights, economic and social justice, and government responsibility are some of the central issues addressed in this chapter on social and political philosophy. Adalberto Rios Szalay/Sexto Sol/Getty Images

3. Learning Objectives 10.1 Identify, analyze and discuss the elements of a just society. 10.2 Explain classical theories of society proposed by Confucius, Plato, and Aristotle.

4. Learning Objectives 10.3 Explain and critically evaluate the view that justice depends on a social contract, as propounded by Hobbes, Locke, and Rawls. 10.4 Explain and critically evaluate the view that justice is based on need and ability, as advocated by Marx and Engels.

5. Learning Objectives 10.5 Evaluate and discuss Mill's theory that justice is what promotes the general welfare. 10.6 Explain and discuss Okin's view that justice is what promotes gender equality.

6. Chapter Overview Click on the screenshot in presentation mode to view a video on creating a just state.

7. 10.1 Elements of a Just Society • Questions of justice • Questions of law • Questions of public interest • Questions of duty • Questions of rights • Questions of freedom • Questions of power and influence

8. Protest and Rebellion:  This mural in Atlanta, Georgia of Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights activists dramatizes the struggle for equal rights and opportunities. According to John Locke, if a government's policies fail to accurately represent the will of the people, citizens have the obligation to engage in protest, civil disobedience, and even outright rebellion. Do you agree with this? Why or why not? Forty3Zero/Shutterstock

9. 10.1 Elements of a Just Society • Social and political philosophies • Normative • Descriptive • Moral concepts • Justice, fairness, rights, duties, equality, political freedom

12. Confucius (551–479 B.C.E.): This Chinese philosopher was esteemed as the “Greatest Master.” His teachings were aimed at bringing harmony to society through an emphasis on virtue. Philip Lange/Shutterstock

13. 10.2 Classical Theories of Society: Confucius, Plato, and Aristotle • Society Should Be Based on Virtue: Confucius • Ethical humanism • Ren • Zhong-yong

14. Are bureaucrats required for a good and orderly government? The legacy of Confucian thought continued for centuries in the form of civil service examinations that scholar-bureaucrats had to pass to gain in governance posts. The Art Gallery Collection/Alamy

15. 10.2 Classical Theories of Society: Confucius, Plato, and Aristotle • Li • Analyzing Confucius on the social order • Society Should Be Based on Function and Harmony: Plato • Plato, The Republic

16. Philosopher-King? Many people consider the British statesman Winston Churchill (1874–1965) to be an exemplar of the philosopher-king—one who can combine enlightened thinking with superior leadership abilities. Is there a philosopher-king in our times? Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division[LC-USZ62-64419]

17. Figure 10.1 The Virtuous Soul and Just State

18. 10.2 Classical Theories of Society: Confucius, Plato, and Aristotle • Egalitarian values • Analyzing Plato on social harmony • Society Is the Natural State of Humanity: Aristotle • Aristotle, Politics • Analyzing Aristotle on community

20. Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679). This British philosopher was a thorough-going materialist who tried to reconcile free will with materialism. He is best known for his social contract theory, which advocates the transfer of power to an absolute sovereign Burghley House Collection, Lincolnshire, UK/Bridgeman Images

21. 10.3 Justice Depends on a Social Contract: From Hobbes and Locke to Rawls • Hobbes, Locke and Hume agreed on the following core political beliefs: • All members of society are intrinsically equal. • Individuals willingly enter into a "social contract" with one another to promote a better quality of life for themselves. • Justice comes into existence with the formation of the social contract.

22. 10.3 Justice Depends on a Social Contract: From Hobbes and Locke to Rawls • Hobbes, Locke and Hume agreed on the following core political beliefs: • Justice is viewed as pursuing the public interest enforced by the authority of the ruling members of the community. • We Need a Social Contract to Coexist: Hobbes • Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan • Analyzing Hobbes on the social contract

23. Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826). Jefferson was an American statesman and advocate of the social contract and natural rights of humans who composed the Declaration of Independence. GL Archive/Alamy

24. 10.3 Justice Depends on a Social Contract: From Hobbes and Locke to Rawls • The Social Contract Protects Natural Rights: Locke • John Locke, The Second Treatise of Civil Government • Thomas Jefferson et al., The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription • Analyzing Locke on natural rights

25. Signing of the Declaration of Independence. What are the key principles of the Declaration of Independence? To what extent do you believe these principles are reflected in our society today? Horydczak, Theodor, ca. 1890-1971 Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington[LC-H8-CT-C01-063]

26. John Rawls (1921–2002). An American philosopher who made major contributions to political philosophy, Rawls suggested that the principles of justice be chosen behind a “veil of ignorance,” in which no one knows his or her social status, assets and abilities, intelligence and strengths. Harvard University

27. 10.3 Justice Depends on a Social Contract: From Hobbes and Locke to Rawls • The State of Nature: Assumptions and Questions • David Hume • The State of Nature Is a Conceptual Tool: Rawls • John Rawls, A Theory of Justice • Analyzing Rawls on justice and equality

29. Karl Marx (1818–1883). Marx was a German philosopher and economist whose writings laid the groundwork for socialism. Georgios Kollidas/Fotolia

30. Friedrich Engels (1820–1895). This German philosopher and social scientist wrote about the horrors of factory working conditions in England before befriending Karl Marx. Engels cowrote the Communist Manifesto with Marx and also edited parts of Marx’s Das Kapital. Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Historical/Corbis

31. 10.4 Justice is Based on Need and Ability: Marx and Engels • Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Manifesto of the Communist Party • Analyzing Marx and Engels on Social Justice

32. 10.5 Justice Is What Promotes The General Welfare: Mill • John Stuart Mill • Social utility • Five different meanings of justice • John Stuart Mill, from On Liberty

34. Susan Moller Okin (1946–2004). This American philosopher is known as one of the most important thinkers in the field of gender and political theory. Linda A. Cicero/Stanford University News Service

35. 10.6 Justice Is What Promotes Gender Equality: Okin • Feminist sociopolitical philosophy • Susan Moller Okin, Justice, Gender, and the Family • Analyzing Okin on Gender Equality

36. Should society strive to achieve equality in the family? Okin believes that a genuine “humanist justice” would involve doing away with traditional male and female roles and replacing them with a gender-neutral approach to family responsibilities. Do you think this is a realistic goal? WavebreakmediaMicro/Fotolia

40. Making Connections: An Ideal Society • Responsibilities of citizens in society • Reflect and think clearly about critical issues • Assume our share of the responsibility to help our society become more enlightened