Justice And Free Market System

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3.0 JUSTICE AND FREE MARKET SYSTEM

3.1 The Nature of Justice
This is an old concept and fundamental to any discussion of how society
ought to be organized. During the Greek era, the popular philosopher,
Plato argues that justice seems to have been the paramount virtue with
regards to our relationship with others. However, today philosophers
have differentiated justice with the whole of morality. Sometimes the
just and unjust are vague.
Related ideas of justice
Fairness
Equality
Desert/deserve
Rights
Fairness
i. Justice frequently concerns the fair treatment of members of
groups of people/the fair compensation of prior injuries.
ii.

It is difficult to determine the requirement of fairness as different

standards may be pertinent in different cases.

iii.

Aristotle formal principle of justice required people to treat

similar cases alike except where there is some relevant difference.

iv.

It emphasizes on the role of impartially and consistency of justice.

Equality
i. Justice is frequently held to require that our treatment of people
reflect their fundamental moral equality.
ii.

The claim of injustice based on equality is meant to place the

burden proof on those who endorse unequal treatment.

iii.

Some differences in the treatment of persons are not consistent

with equality and neither respect for equality nor commitment to
equal treatment necessarily implies an equal distribution of
economic goods.

iv.

A moral doctrine which states people should always act to produce

the greatest possible balance of good (happiness/pleasure) over
bad for everyone affected by our actions. The action is right if it
can create the greatest happiness of all.

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Deserve/desert
i. Individual circumstances will make a difference.
ii.
Something in addition to equal or impartial treatment.
iii.
Justice also requires that people get what they deserve (that each
receive his/her due.)
Rights.
i. The ideas of John Stuart Mill
ii.
People are treated unjustly when their moral rights are violated.
Types of Justice
Distributive Justice

Retributive Justice

Compensatory Justice

Distributing societys Blaming

and Restoring to a person
benefits and burden
punishing persons
what the person lost
fairly.
fairly
for
doing
when he or she was
The fundamental of
wrong
i.e.
the
wronged by someone
punishment
of
else i.e. a matter of
this principle holds
wrongdoers.
compensating persons
that
the
equals
for wrongs done to
should
treated
them.
equally and equals
treated unequally.

Rival Principles of Distribution (Distributive Justice):

The proper distribution of social benefits and burdens based on several
principles:.
To each an equal share.
To each according to an individual need.
To each according to personal effort.
To each according to social contribution.
To each according to merit.
(Each of these principles has its advocates, and each seems plausible in
some circumstances).
To each an equal share.
When a company distributes its yearly bonuses, each eligible party
should receive a portion equal to every other eligible party.

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To each according to individual need.

Resources should be allocated to individuals and departments in
terms of the level of need they experience.
To each according to personal effort.
Everything else being equal, employees should receive pay
increases or pay cuts in direct proportion to their level of effort.
To each according to social contribution.
If a company is making a special effort to address social issues, it
should receive rewards that other companies less careful about
the environment may not get.
To each according to merit.

Promotion, hiring and firing decisions should be done on the basis

of individual merit and no other consideration such as nepotism,
favourism or personal bias.

Drawbacks of the principles.

i.
ii.

If equality of income were guaranteed, the lazy would receive as

much as the industrious.
Effort is hard to measure and compare.

Implications of Distributive Justice

i.
ii.

Different principles of Distributive Justice can be applied in

different circumstances.
Multiple principles may often be relevant to a single situation.

3.2 The Utilitarian View on Justice

The argument on justice for utilitarian was based on John Stuart Millss
view. He relates the issue of justice with maximizing the societys
happiness. He perceives justice was ultimately a matter of promoting
social well-being. What utilitarianism identifies as rights are certain
moral rules, the observance of which is of the utmost importance for the
long-run, overall maximization of happiness.
The concept of justice identifies certain important social utilities (rules of
rights) the upholding of which is crucial for social well-being. For
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utilitarianism, then justice is not an independent moral standard, distinct

from their general principle.
Mill asked: is it just or not that more talented workers should receive a
greater remuneration?
There are 2 possible answers:
i. Negative view whoever does the best he can deserves equally
well and ought not in justice to be put in a position of inferiority for
no fault of his own.
ii.
Positive view the society receives more from the more efficient
laborer, his services being more useful, society owes him a larger
return for them.
From the above arguments, it seems that both were seems plausible
based on Mills ideas.
Utilitarian and Economic Distribution
Utilitarian want an economic system that will bring more benefits to
society than any other system. However the kind of system will be
depended on the relevant social, economic and political facts. Deciding
what sort of economic arrangements would best promote human
happiness requires that utilitarian to consider many things, including:
i.
ii.

iii.
iv.
v.

The type of economic ownership (private, public, mixed);

The way of organizing production and distribution in general, (pure
laissez faire, market with government planning and regulation,
fully centralized planning);
The type of authority arrangements within the units of production
(worker control versus managerial prerogative);
The range and character of material incentives;
The nature and extent of social security and welfare provision.

Worker participation
Mill argued for desirability of breaking down the sharp and hostile
division between the producers, or workers, on the other hand, and the
capitalist, or owners, on the other. These developments would not only
enhance productivity but, more importantly, promotes the fuller
development and well-being of the people involved.
Greater Equality of Income

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Utilitarian are likely to believe that making the distribution of income

more equal is a good strategy for maximizing happiness. Currently, the
utilitarian are likely to advocate increased economic equality.

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