Justice faces several challenges, including:
: Viewed justice as a form of social harmony where every individual performs the role they are best suited for within a "just city." summary of justice
Several theories have been proposed to explain the concept of justice, including: So the people added the Scales
Today, justice is often discussed in terms of "human welfare and the protection of reasonable interests ." Modern movements focus heavily on: Had the thief’s own children eaten in three days
: Ensuring that no community bears a disproportionate burden of environmental hazards.
: Concerned with the fairness of the processes that lead to outcomes. Even if an outcome is unfavorable, individuals are more likely to accept it if they believe the rules were applied consistently and neutrally.
So the people added the Scales. Now, when a theft occurred, a wise woman would weigh the stolen grain against the hunger of the thief. She would consider: Was the granary door left open? Had the thief’s own children eaten in three days? She sought balance. The thief might return double the grain or work in the fields to repay the debt. This was —repairing the tear in the community’s fabric. But the people soon noticed a problem. The richest villager could knock over the scales with a bag of gold and walk free. The poorest could never balance them at all.