A Just Society: Identity Humanity and Justice
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Date
2014-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The question of justice is the fundamental question in human life. It is one of the pioneer issues in the
subject of philosophy. The questions for equality, liberty, right and balance in the relationship of men, the
interaction between people and the government are manifestations of the quest for justice. Starting from
the ancient Greek philosophy (Socrates), the question of justice continues to our times creating new forms
and dimensions. The very reason for the formation of state is the need for justice and its role is to
maintain justice, its function is devoted the prevalence of justice.
However, the problem of justice remained unsolved and different forms of injustice affect the lives of
individuals and groups. Hence, different philosophers and thinkers continue developing new theories of
justice. Among others, the most influential political and moral philosopher, John Rawls, argues that the
primary subject of justice should be social institutions, guided by certain principles of justice resulted in
agreement of rational, mutually disinterested parties in the “original position” behind “the veil of
ignorance”. Yet, his theory is criticized by Amartya Sen and Robert Nozick, for it gives extreme emphasis
on institutions and to the state than individual freedom and actual behavior of men.
This thesis will argue, in line with Sen and Nozick that the primary subjects of justice should be individual
humans. The role of the state must be minimal as Nozick suggests and institutions should be promoters of
justice (Sen) than being themselves sources of justice (Rawls). Justice must be giving freedom and
allowing opportunities to individuals to attain their goals of life. It must address the question of autonomy,
giving recognition to the existence of human beings as complete beings having all the qualities of
humanity. Therefore, justice should be conformity with humanity, it can be conceived in the ultimate
unity of human beings in the kingdom of humanity and an action is just if it is humane towards humans and non human beings as well
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Philosophy