Thoughts.com Blogs - Print Journalism Blog 2: Justice

View Blog

Print Journalism Blog 2: Justice

I've been picking through The Republic by Plato for the last few months, and I've been left constantly wondering what justice really is. And, seeing as though I've never managed to finish that chapter, I chose to write about it instead, to see if I could get a thought pattern going.

Socrates poses the question in this book "what is justice. Is it doing harm to enemies and doing good to friends" or is it something else entirely. I suppose that this is one form of justice. But, no, it's not what justice should be. This form of justice is self serving, and justice should be impartial, or at least serve the greater good for a massive amount of people.

Let me qualify that. Justice needs to be a separate entity from the rest of the governmental or civilian institutions. It needs to hold itself to a higher standard, one that can transcend what is considered the common thought process or the regular way of doing things. Indeed, it should vary from common sense on some issues.

Again, let me qualify that. Common sense isn't. It's an oxymoron. What common sense tells us is societies norms. And what I consider this to be, is something completely apart from what is good. Then again, I'm a Christian, and my thought process tends to go against the grain. Example: I don't get drunk. When asked why I say my family has a problem with alcohol. Which is true, one of my uncles, a dead uncle (recent) and my biological grandfather all enjoyed/enjoy their beer and booze far too much. To the point where an intervention should be staged.

This isn't the complete truth however. I'm a Christian, which means my stance on booze is...well, I don't get drunk because the Bibles says I shouldn't. It's the end all and be all of the argument for me. Does that mean it should be for everyone else? No. It's my Protestantism. It works for me. That's my example on common sense. And that's the way that justice should work.

I don't mean from a judeo-christian stand point (Though, guess where most of our laws come from?) but they should do their best to rise above things that are wrong that society considers ok. For example, the equal rights.

For....well...years women couldn't vote. Had no workplace rights. Nowadays people hear that and they go "oh, gosh. That...that's horrible, how could that happen?" Well, it happened because of a male-chauvinistic, male-centrist society. Then one day, someone had the idea "Gee, this isn't fair. " and this person started the equal rights movement. Which has now ~sigh~ given birth to neo-feminism. How cute.

But it went against the common thought process of society, and changed the world for the better. Another example is gay rights. This is something that, in the states, really pisses me off. In some states, where gay marriage etc. still isn't recognized, partners are denied social security benefits, death-bed visits etc. all because some pompous, right wing jackass doesn't agree or is threatened by the life style.

To this person I say take a hike. No body of government or law has the right to reasonably tell someone who they can, and cannot fall in love with. Love is something that transcends all human thought and understand and you cannot regulate or apply law to that. And if you try, you're wrong.

This is why justice needs to be impartial. Some people think it's great to have judges lean wildly to the left and right, so the debate can rage. And I agree you need these voices articulating the extreme ends of the spectrum. But you need the centrist. The one who says "My alligence to the case, and the justice will out weigh the political scheme being enacted around me."

So, to answer Socrates question, at least for my part, is thus: Justice is the well thought out process that results in an understanding of human nature, and how best to protect humanity from itself after vigorous debate. It is also the unbiased opinion of the right, and the unflinching destruction of the wrong. It is harsh and forgiving. Much like a father it must discipline and console. Either to both parties or to one on its own.

Thanks,