Justice: A Word with Many Meanings

Justice: Some of Its Many Meanings

This version last modified on March 22, 2010.

Main Types of Justice

distributive justice justice in assigning rewards and burdens as if from a common source

retributive justice justice concerned with punishment for infraction of a rule (or law)

compensatory justice justice concerned with restoring to persons what they lost when harmed by a second party

Regarding distributive justice, there is one fundamental or general or formal principle, and there are several specific or material principles.

The fundamental (or general) principle of distributive justice:

In assignment of benefits and burdens, those who are equal in relevant ways should be treated equally, those who are unequal in relevant ways should be treated unequally in proportion to their inequality.

Specific Principles of Distributive Justice (See Note below.)

Name of Principle Formulation

Strict Egalitarian Every person should receive equal benefits and burdens

Merit--Plato's Version People should be rewarded with positions of responsibility according to their intelligence, capacity for devotion to the public good, and education.

Merit--Seniority Persons should be rewarded financially according to the number of years they have held a job.

Merit--Effort . . . according to their work effort.

Merit--Output . . . according to the quantity and quality of their work

An Early Christian or "Socialist"
or Nurturant Parent Family Formula People should be assigned burdens according to abilities, benefits according to need.

Libertarian Burdens should be assigned as they are voluntarily accepted, benefits as others voluntarily give them and as one creates them for oneself through labor on materials of which one is rightful owner. This version also includes the benefits and burdens (rights and duties) that arise from contracts voluntarily entered into.

Note. John Rawls' principles are not included here. Though they can be understood as blending elements of merit, egalitarian, libertarian, and "socialist" principles, they are not an arbitrary synthesis but have their own carefully worked out derivation from a reasonable model of fairness. Moreover, their scope is not limited to material rewards and burdens but is concerned with powers and opportunities as well. See John Rawls on Justice.

Main Types of Justice
distributive justice	justice in assigning rewards and burdens as if from a common source
retributive justice	justice concerned with punishment for infraction of a rule (or law)
compensatory justice	justice concerned with restoring to persons what they lost when harmed by a second party

Specific Principles of Distributive Justice (See Note below.)
Name of Principle	Formulation
Strict Egalitarian	Every person should receive equal benefits and burdens
Merit--Plato's Version	People should be rewarded with positions of responsibility according to their intelligence, capacity for devotion to the public good, and education.
Merit--Seniority	Persons should be rewarded financially according to the number of years they have held a job.
Merit--Effort	. . . according to their work effort.
Merit--Output	. . . according to the quantity and quality of their work
An Early Christian or "Socialist" or Nurturant Parent Family Formula	People should be assigned burdens according to abilities, benefits according to need.
Libertarian	Burdens should be assigned as they are voluntarily accepted, benefits as others voluntarily give them and as one creates them for oneself through labor on materials of which one is rightful owner. This version also includes the benefits and burdens (rights and duties) that arise from contracts voluntarily entered into.