tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8501799411663758190.post8618918843081834690..comments2016-10-17T00:03:35.516-07:00Comments on Cafe-philo at South Kensington: Fairness vs Justicexiaoweihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05410549531710952189noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8501799411663758190.post-37411699282349931352010-10-28T08:33:54.657-07:002010-10-28T08:33:54.657-07:00To be unfairly treated is very hurtful. Why is it ...To be unfairly treated is very hurtful. Why is it so?<br />When do I feel that I have been unfairly treated, how one defines fairness?<br />Is more fairness in a society always a gain?<br />I would feel it unfair if I judge that I have been singled out for poor treatment or I have not received my entitlement; We make a judgement that triggers an emotion: that in itself is interesting.<br />It may be that because we are essentially social animals, the fact that we equate discrimination with rejection, raises very strong emotions.<br />From birth we are hardwired to entitlement, the baby cry for milk is part of its survival kit.<br />As social beings, divided into family cells, neighbourhood clans, nations…we have devised and re-devised rules and customs distributing entitlements and duties. History shows that these distributions invariably advantage the powerful people: that is the strong and cunning and disadvantaged the meek. Throughout history rules and laws have been established that perpetuate our hierarchical society.<br />That is where Justice lies today: the rule of law.<br />When the rule of law is ignored and we are denied our entitlement, we may have recourse to the court to redress some unfairness.<br />When the law tolerates or reinforces some discrimination; remedy may come in two ways: change the law democratically or if not possible, direct action which may lead to deadly conflict.<br /> A civilised society is defined by its statute and by the way the law is adhered to and administered. <br />For every entitlement gained there has always been a struggle by a group or an other, against, often, a minority, who would fight to maintain their privileges. Fairness has never come as a gift to progress.<br /><br /><br /><br />Does that mean that a society which treats all its citizen equally is a civilised society? A society that privileges a minority or even a majority, we would find abhorrent, unless it was deemed positive discrimination to redress unfairness.<br />There is some good news: A recent publication The Sprit Level (Why Equality is better for Everyone), shows that more equal society improve the life of all citizens, including the more affluent.Andrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09924109656830881210noreply@blogger.com