Understanding Social Justice
- The term “social justice” has its roots in Christian theology. Italian Jesuit priest Luigi Taparelli first used it in the 1840s, during the emergence of the Risorgimento, an Italian nationalist movement.
- Reflecting its historical relationship with religious ideologies, Taparelli’s concept of social justice was first predicated on applying justice concepts to social concerns, frequently based on natural theology and religious views.
- But as society developed, especially in the wake of the Industrial Revolution, the idea of social justice moved out of the purview of religion. People in society started to see it as morally required of them to work towards the common good, regardless of their religious convictions.
- Towards the close of the 20th century, the word “social justice” became much more widespread. Some academics credit this tendency to the neoliberal policies put in place by politicians like Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.
- John Rawls, a significant American philosopher of the 20th century, examined social justice in his landmark work “A Theory of Justice” (1971). Rawls put out the idea of “justice as fairness,” which entails deciding on acceptable degrees of inequality in society as well as reasonable guidelines for allocating social goods.
- In general, as people and organisations work to build more just and equitable societies, the idea of social justice keeps evolving to reflect shifting cultural values and priorities.
Social Justice Meaning & Principles Polity Notes
The phrase “social justice” has great resonance in today’s language because it encompasses a broad range of ideas and precepts meant to promote opportunity, equality, and fairness in society. The purpose of this article is to examine the definition and tenets of social justice, a topic that touches on politics, economics, and ethics. Seeking social justice is becoming more and more important as countries struggle with issues of discrimination, poverty, and systemic injustice.
Through an analysis of the fundamental principles of social justice, such as distributive justice, equality of rights, and inclusivity, this piece aims to offer a thorough comprehension of the goals and objectives that support this important philosophy.
Contact Us