Everyone holds their own definition of what justice is, though the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it, as the process or result of using laws to fairly judge and punish crimes and criminals (Merriam Webster). Although the idea of justice is connotative to good intention, Marcus Tullus Cicero author of The Defense of Injustice, shares a different perspective to the notion of justice. In a persuasive dialogue, Laelius gives Philus the challenge to defend the idea of injustice, in which Philius successfully accomplishes, establishing a powerful argument. Cicero insists that the idea of doing the right thing and having a good intention comes from human weakness and not from the idea of justice. He believes that the idea of justice …show more content…
However, that seems to be influenced by their human weakness, like selfishness that leads one 's interests over what other people want, and fear that has been enlisted in them, making them believe that something should be done. Take for example the drug cartels in Mexico, people believe that there should be justice brought a upon it all, due to the fear they have of being kidnapped or murdered. Nevertheless, it would be different if the drug cartels were fighting to benefit the people; therefore, the people would not be fearful of them. However, they are fighting on their human weakness, on what they believe in correct even if many others are killed and suffer. Philus asserts, "the weakness, not nature or good intention, is the mother of justice," since if people did not feel fear to what is considered wrong, they would not be asking for justice (Cicero 151). Humans are in constant search for justice they have been implanted the idea that justice "is the most generous and liberal of all virtues" and meant to "live for the benefit of others rather than of itself" (Cicero 148). This quotation means that human beings expect from others to give up their own in order to benefit the rest, or else they are not considered just. They have concluded that "justice...demands that [they] should be merciful to all men [and] act in the interests of the entire human race '" and not just themselves (Cicero 151). Humans often believe that if it does not benefit everyone it is not considered good or that if it is good it should be shared upon