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Ch 04 - Social Justice11th Political Theory

Ancient Perspectives on Justice

How did ancient cultures (India, China, Greece) fundamentally define the concept of Justice?

CONCEPT

Ancient Concepts of Justice

India (Dharma & Dandaniti):
- Dharma: Justice was associated with maintaining a just social order and performing one's duties. It was the primary duty of kings.
- Dandaniti: The legal aspect of justice, focusing on statecraft and the power to punish (Danda) to maintain societal order.
China (Confucius): Justice was maintained by the ruler by strictly punishing wrongdoers and rewarding the virtuous.
Greece (Plato): Discussed extensively in The Republic. Justice involves ensuring the well-being of all people in society, rather than merely doing good to friends and harming enemies.

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The Necessity of Justice: Socrates vs. Glaucon

What was Glaucon's cynical argument regarding justice, and how did Socrates refute it?

CONCEPT

Why be Just?

Glaucon's Cynical View: He argued that being unjust is practical if one can avoid getting caught (e.g., tax evasion, deceit). He viewed justice merely as an artificial contract people agree to so they can avoid suffering injustice from others.
Socrates' Refutation: Socrates argued that if everyone continually manipulates rules for selfish gain, no one is secure. Therefore, it is in everyone's long-term self-interest to obey laws.
Conclusion: Justice is necessary for the well-being of all, much like a doctor is concerned with the holistic well-being of their patients, not just temporary fixes.

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Duties vs. Rights

What is the fundamental paradigm shift from Ancient to Modern concepts of Justice?

DISTINCTION

The Shift from Duties to Rights

Ancient Paradigm (India/China): Justice was overwhelmingly associated with the strict performance of Duties (e.g., the King's duty to punish, the subject's duty to follow their assigned Dharma).
Modern Paradigm (Kant/Rawls): Justice is fundamentally associated with Rights and the inherent dignity of the individual.
The Core Shift: Political thought shifted away from asking 'What do I owe the King or the social order?' to asking 'What is fairly due to me as a human being?'

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Also in this chapter

30 more cards to study in Prism

4Justice as Human Dignity (Kant)
5Justice as a Claimable Right (J.S. Mill)
6Legal vs. Moral Justice
7The Three Principles of Justice
8Principle 1: Equal Treatment
9Equality vs. Proportionate Justice
10The Paradox of Merit
11Principle 3: Special Needs
12The Irony of Blind Justice
13Applying 'Special Needs' in India
14Case Study: Accommodating Disability
15The Challenge of Harmonizing Justice
16Defining Distributive Justice
17Distribution vs. Absolute Equality
18Basic Minimum Conditions
19Calculating Basic Needs
20Justice vs. Charity
21The Concept of Antyodaya
22Rawls' Challenge: Objective Fairness
23The Veil of Ignorance
24Rationality over Morality
25The Difference Principle
26The Case for Free Markets
27The Critique of Free Markets
28The Mixed Economy Approach
29Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's Vision of a Just Society
30Dr. Ambedkar's Journals
31Social Justice Year (1990-1991)
32DPSPs Promoting Social Justice
33Case Study: Post-Independence Land Reforms

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