What is Social Justice?

Plato in his writing “The Republic” dubbed social justice as

Pantheism because he compared justice or fairness as the universe in its
entirety that is moved by an invisible source. The universe has been here
since time immemorial and no one can determine the age but why is it
that it never collided and still “in order”? He defined justice as universal,
absolute and eternal. But what is justice, the maintenance or
administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of
conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments.
So to correlate that with Plato’s “The Republic”, the components of
justice is harmony and unity. But that can never be attained if there is no
State which is the very purpose why the need for state, politics and law
is a must in every society.
Social Justice only came in the being during the 19th Century in the
Industrial Revolution to be exact by the European counties. The
populace who were fed up by their monarchs demand justice and
fairness based on the premises of equality among men and to resolve
capitalist exploitation. This later expanded to issue such as tights of the
poor, equal distribution of wealth, race, gender and the likes. Aristotle,
Plato’s most apt subordinate gave his own definition when he said,
“equals should be treated equally and unequally” that means that
individuals must be treated the same but ig necessity dictates there are
exceptions, For example, John and Joanne are both workers in the same
factory and in the same position and are having the same compensation.
However, there are things may differ when it comes to age, sec,
educational background or religious belief.
State and Law
State is a community of persons more or less numerous
permanently occupying a definite territory having a government of their
own to which a great body of inhabitants render habitual obedience and
enjoying freedom from external control. A state has the following
elements namely: 1. People: Mass of population living within the state;
2. Territory: Land, maritime, aerial and fluvial area over which
jurisdiction exists; 3. Government: The agency which the will of the
state is carried out; 4. Sovereignty: Supreme power of the state to
enforce its will on the people without foreign intervention and; 5.
Recognition: the acceptance of a nation into the Family of Nations.
A law is part and parcel of a state and is defined as any rule that if
broken will mete punishments to offenders. It is also defined as a body
of rules made by the government interpreted by the courts and back by
the power of the State. It is legal order which refers to a specialized
phase of social control. Law is not only a means to a civilization but
also a product of civilization according to Roscoe Pound, the spokesman
for the School or Social Jurisprudence. Law is responsible for social
engineering for it is mechanism in reacting to changes in a society. Laws
are susceptible to change and is not bound by traditions and legends and
is created for the interest of all members of society.
Government and Justice
1. Egalitarianism – Egalitarianism is a trend in political philosophy. It
favors equality to everyone where people are treated the same as equals.
Justice is given to everyone regardless of race color or creed.
2. Communism – is simply based class dictatorship of the proletariat (the
ruling party). This type of governance was thought of by Karl Marx,
where a society is dominated by one class over the entire state.
Socialism is the reciprocal of capitalism, where state control of the
economy is the nation’s priority.
3. Socialism – Apolitical ideology that advocated for an equal
redistribution of wealth and power in society through a democratic
ownership and distribution of society’s means of production (or means
of making money).
Pluralism versus Fundamentalism
Let us define Pluralism – it is holding of two or more beliefs or
concepts in a single society. This is the prevailing idea that is introduced
in the modern world to make this a better place to live in. The Pluralist
ideology fell on the following premises: 1. Pluralism is engagement with
diversity. This means that the walls that divide people due to religious
beliefs shall be removed, at present religious diversity is present by
devoid of religious pluralism. That is in certain countries religious
ghettos allow religious minorities to exist in their fold but is still
alienated due to their biases by the adherents of the dominant religion. 2.
Pluralism is understanding that transcends lines of differences. Many are
mistaken that we have to learn the entire religious doctrine of another
only a portion is enough to at least build a bridge to connect them.
Absence of knowledge of another culture led to bias and alienation. 3.
Pluralism is encounter of commitments, this is simply to empathize to
people of another religion. We should not isolate ourselves from what
we know but break borders. 4. Pluralism is based on dialogue – talking
is the most basic way of communicating, silence will bring us nowhere.
Fundamentalism is defined as a strict belief in the literal
interpretation of the religious tenet. Fundamentalists view of other
religious beliefs are biased and contrary to their fundamental beliefs are
considered “heretic”. Their religious tenets adhere to the idea that
morality is ebbing due to modernization.
Globalization and Pluralism
In our ever-changing world, pluralism are political responses to
different historical challenges that they shape history that build bridges
than Fundamentalism that create walls. Policies geared religious
pluralism center on religious toleration, rights for denominations, or
individual religious freedom. They believed that even if they subscribe
to religious beliefs they belong to the One Faith ad are unified by the
philosophy of being one. Globalization since we are now in the Digital
Age, play a major role in achieving common understanding that
Ecumenical Services accepted people of “alien” religions to be at one
thanks to the internet. With the continuing development in
telecommunications that will prove brighter in the years to some, will
lead to peaceful co-existence and even to ideological convergence. Then
again, like a double-edged sword, pluralism may also lead to social
dissolution, since the awareness of fundamental differences between
religious world-views and might lead to misunderstanding and lead to
religious wars. One example is the Crusaders that occurred in the Middle
Ages between Muslims and Christians in spite of the fact that Islam
revered Christ as one of their prophets and the Muslims beliefs foster
humility and brotherhood akin to Christin traditions.
The Filipino Millennials aka Filinnials
Time Magazine, described millennials as people born from 1980 to
2000. This generation comprise the largest age group in America and
Asia. Their group is called the “yuppie” age (from the acronym YUP or
Young Urban Professionals). In the Philippines, they are described as
the “selfie” generation and followers of social media no thanks to
modern communication gadgets such as mobile phones, laptops and
tablets that seems they can never do without. A Filinnial are usually
spendthrifts due to their propensity to spend money for luxury goods
which left their bank accounts “broke”. Another trait that unified most of
them is their narcissistic attitude, making them known as the “Me, Me,
Me Generation”. They are so conscious of what and how they look that
selfies are common thing. It must be noted though that there are also
good attitudes which millennials possess among them are such as TV,
movies, radio and print are no longer the source of information.
Compared to other generations, millennials have their say about issues
and are more involved with politics and are not squeamish about
revealing their opinions.
The Role of Religion in Ethics
Even in the current situation, many are still arguing about the role
of religion in Ethics. Will this age-old institution be the primary agent
for the right ethics for they propagate the Word of God? Most religious
have an ethical component because ethics is yardstick for right conduct
and good life. A necessary component of making this a guide to
temporal happiness. Is this the most reliable conception of analyzing
what is right from what is wrong? The central theme of ethics if “the
good life”, the every reason we aspire for in this temporal world we live
in that ancient Greeks regarded as eudaimonia or happiness The ancient
Greeks believed happiness was brought about by living one’s life in
accordance with Virtue – positive traits of character. Virtue is the source
of good character, that us integrated by good personal habits such as
courage and temperance, but also friendship and justice and intellectual
virtue.