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Full Idea
If justice perishes, there is no further point in men living on earth.
Gist of Idea
Human life is pointless without justice
Source
Immanuel Kant (Metaphysics of Morals I: Doctrine of Right [1797], §49 Gen E)
Book Ref
Kant,Immanuel: 'Political Writings', ed/tr. Reiss,Hans [CUP 1996], p.155
A Reaction
I suspect that human life is also pointless if it only involves justice, and nothing else worthwhile. Are there other things so good that we might sacrifice justice to achieve them? How about maximal utilitarian happiness?
| 21407 | Equality is not being bound in ways you cannot bind others [Kant] |
| 21080 | Actions are right if the maxim respects universal mutual freedoms [Kant] |
| 21081 | We are equipped with the a priori intuitions needed for the concept of right [Kant] |
| 21406 | Because there is only one human reason, there can only be one true philosophy from principles [Kant] |
| 21082 | A power-based state of nature may not be unjust, but there is no justice without competent judges [Kant] |
| 21083 | Women have no role in politics [Kant] |
| 21084 | In the contract people lose their rights, but immediately regain them, in the new commonwealth [Kant] |
| 21085 | The church has a political role, by offering a supreme power over people [Kant] |
| 21086 | Hereditary nobility has not been earned, and probably won't be earned [Kant] |
| 21087 | Human life is pointless without justice [Kant] |
| 21088 | Justice asserts the death penalty for murder, from a priori laws [Kant] |
| 21089 | Monarchs have the highest power; autocrats have complete power [Kant] |
| 21090 | If someone has largely made something, then they own it [Kant] |