Single Idea 23164

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 1. Basis of justice]

Full Idea

Justice has come to be interpreted as equality, except where exceptional merit is thought to deserve an exceptional but still moderate reward.

Gist of Idea

Modern justice is seen as equality, apart from modest extra rewards for exceptional desert

Source

Bertrand Russell (Authority and the Individual [1949], 5)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'Authority and the Individual' [Unwin 1977], p.70


A Reaction

Kekes rebels against this modern distortion of justice, which traditionally means everyone getting what they deserve - good or bad. The modern egalitarian view seems to be a rebellion against the harsh interpretation of the older view.

Related Idea

Idea 23079 Liberal justice ignores desert, which is the essence of justice [Kekes]