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Full Idea
Justice is a combination of consistency and desert. Like cases should be treated alike, and likenesses should be evaluated according to desert.
Gist of Idea
Justice combines consistency and desert; treat likes alike, judging likeness by desert
Source
John Kekes (Against Liberalism [1997], 06.3)
Book Ref
Kekes,John: 'Against Liberalism' [Cornell 1997], p.130
A Reaction
[compressed] He needs to add that at least the desert should be relevant to the events being assessed. Should people not get a fair trial if they are branded as generally 'undeserving'? Hence the case must be judged before the desert is identified.