In the ancient city of Athens, Greece, there was once a discussion of great importance held between some good friends. This discussion was so important because it was the first recorded debate over the meaning of something many of us wouldn’t think to question in modern times: justice. One would not know most of the participants in the conversation by name, that is, except for one notable philosopher: Socrates. The discourse between Socrates and his friends was documented by a student of his, Plato, another well-known Athenian, in his famous book, The Republic. In The Republic the discussion began when old Cephalus offers a definition of what is “right”. Cephalus believes, as Socrates states, "doing right consists simply and solely of
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Traditional Kenyan, or Gikuyu, justice (also called kihooto) historically relied on three main principles. Principle 1 was that "settlement of disputes should be by deliberation rather than by the use of force.” Principle 2 was, "correction of imbalance should be by compensation rather than by retaliation,” and Principle 3 stated "adjudication should be done impartially” (Wanjohi 125). An interesting fact was that elders were considered to be the least impartial judges since they were “beyond the practicalities and impetuosities of self-interested youth” (125). Perhaps these wise elders were viewed similarly as was Socrates? Either way, the Kenyans would agree, it seems that Socrates was right in saying that causing harm is not the function of a just man. Also, it appears that another common theme between the Athenians’ and the Kenyans’ justices was fairness. In this, I mean that the Kenyans made it a main principle of justice that adjudication be impartial. Similarly, the Athenians had Democracy, which was created out of the desire to meet the needs of the many in as unbiased a way as was …show more content…
His work captured, expertly, a vision of justice unlike any other I had seen thus far:
[Justice] is not a written law or any other socially determined law. Its essential element is theefghw concept of the ‘one thinking in terms of all’, which primarily includes the abandonment of mere self-interest...it is the the moral law. (Rakic)
This came to me as some eye-opening insight. I think that Socrates and Mr. Rakic would have conducted some discourse of epic proportions, had the periods of their lives coincided! In this quest for truth and the meaning of justice, my research into the work of modern philosophers has been highly fruitful. I have learned some key points, which will serve as cogs in the functioning definition which I will build, piece by piece in the next page. The points I have taken from this leg of the journey consist of avoiding a “transcendental approach”, to “enter the real world”, and that “thinking in terms of all” is a central piece of the puzzle which I am attempting to
Traditional Kenyan, or Gikuyu, justice (also called kihooto) historically relied on three main principles. Principle 1 was that "settlement of disputes should be by deliberation rather than by the use of force.” Principle 2 was, "correction of imbalance should be by compensation rather than by retaliation,” and Principle 3 stated "adjudication should be done impartially” (Wanjohi 125). An interesting fact was that elders were considered to be the least impartial judges since they were “beyond the practicalities and impetuosities of self-interested youth” (125). Perhaps these wise elders were viewed similarly as was Socrates? Either way, the Kenyans would agree, it seems that Socrates was right in saying that causing harm is not the function of a just man. Also, it appears that another common theme between the Athenians’ and the Kenyans’ justices was fairness. In this, I mean that the Kenyans made it a main principle of justice that adjudication be impartial. Similarly, the Athenians had Democracy, which was created out of the desire to meet the needs of the many in as unbiased a way as was …show more content…
His work captured, expertly, a vision of justice unlike any other I had seen thus far:
[Justice] is not a written law or any other socially determined law. Its essential element is theefghw concept of the ‘one thinking in terms of all’, which primarily includes the abandonment of mere self-interest...it is the the moral law. (Rakic)
This came to me as some eye-opening insight. I think that Socrates and Mr. Rakic would have conducted some discourse of epic proportions, had the periods of their lives coincided! In this quest for truth and the meaning of justice, my research into the work of modern philosophers has been highly fruitful. I have learned some key points, which will serve as cogs in the functioning definition which I will build, piece by piece in the next page. The points I have taken from this leg of the journey consist of avoiding a “transcendental approach”, to “enter the real world”, and that “thinking in terms of all” is a central piece of the puzzle which I am attempting to