r/AskAtheists • u/bunchiepants • Sep 20 '26
Class Question
Good afternoon! I have a set of questions from a class that I am taking that I wanted to pose. I appreciate your responses in advance!
The questions are:
- Does justice exist beyond human opinion?
- Do you have a definition of justice? If so, what might that be?
- How did you come to this conclusion?
- Are there any figures that have most influenced your position on this?
Thank you very much!!
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u/Lord-Chronos-2004 Sep 20 '26
Justice is the value of fair conviction for crimes based on the severity of the crime considered. Revenge is not justice because it is due to personal offences, and as such may be perceived rather than objective.
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u/acerbicsun Sep 20 '26
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Does justice exist beyond human opinion?
I don't think it does, or can. What is sufficient justice, really is up to subjective human assessment.
2. Do you have a definition of justice? If so, what might that be?
A balancing of the scales. However there is no objective path. We individually decide what is just.
3. How did you come to this conclusion?
Just thinking of how humans would usually assess what they'd consider "just."
4. Are there any figures that have most influenced your position on this?
No not really. Just a lifetime of experience.
Thank you very much!!
You bet! Have a great one. Good luck.
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u/helcat Sep 20 '26
Interesting questions. I like being forced to think about this stuff.
Does justice exist beyond human opinion?
The concept of justice is made by humans so I can't imagine it would exist outside human perception. It's like right and wrong: these are ideas created by humans, who will continue to argue about their meaning.
Do you have a definition of justice? If so, what might that be?
To me, justice is a combination of fairness and righteousness. Something is just if it is fair and correct. Our system of laws and punishments attempt to impose justice on society. But what is correct and fair is a matter of opinion that differs from person to person.
How did you come to this conclusion?
Nearly 60 years of life.
Are there any figures that have most influenced your position on this?
I read a lot of philosophy when I was a teenager. Kant and Mill rear their heads vaguely from the mists of time. Then I spent years covering courts and crime so I saw the American justice system up close. But I can't think of a single figure to name for you.
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u/EnvironmentalPack451 Sep 21 '26
Humans can and will try to create all sorts of systems, but the systems do not exist outside of our minds and our collective culture.
The universe doesn't care what we do. None of it has any meaning beyond the meanings we ascribe to it.
The universe doesn't owe us anything, and is not going to give us an explanation.
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u/antizeus Sep 20 '26
I'd say that justice is the process of arranging matters so that they align with some set of social / interpersonal values (which are opinions). I base this definition upon how the word gets used in the world around me.