Lesson 10: Moral Principle 3: Social Justice

Social Justice

 Section 2 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution expresses that the promotion of

social justice shall include the commitment to create economic opportunities based
on freedom of initiative and self-reliance.
 Justice is traditionally defined as “the disposition by which we render to each
one what is due to him/her.”
 Justice implies that everybody plays fair and square, practicing, honesty and
fairness in dealing with others, that is, if everyone wants to keep the business
environment sound, orderly and intact. (Rawls, 1971)

Different forms of justice

1. General Justice- directed to the “norms of right order”, especially towards the

promotion of the common good.
2. Distributive Justice- disposes the legitimate authority to justly distribute the
benefits and burdens to particular individuals(Aristotle)
3. Example: The distribution of burdens in taxation requires proportionate equality
and proportionate equality is not necessarily an equal share but a fair share of
carrying the burden of taxes.
4. Commutative Justice- main concern is the strict mathematical equality that
requires us to give to others what is due to them. (Aquinas)
5. Social Justice- from the Christian point of view requires the private sector, all
business institutions, NGOs, and the government to acknowledge that the
greatest benefits should go to the four L’s: less fortunate, least advantaged the
last and the lost. (Maximiano, J., 2007)

The issue of justice pertinent to business and market system

 Justice dictates that everyone is recognized and respected for what he/she is,
regardless of race, religion, political connection, or sexual orientation, in the
company’s active fight against any kind of bias, prejudice and discrimination; that
no one is mistreated or shortchanged and no one is exploited or verbally abused in
the workplace-domestic helper, factory worker, driver, gasoline boy and all
others. (Maximiano, J. 2007)