Justice is not merely a concept, but a whole path toward creating a society where each person’s freedom is inextricably linked with equal rights and opportunities.

Justice: Balancing Freedom and Equality

Justice is not merely a concept, but a whole path toward creating a society where each person’s freedom is inextricably linked with equal rights and opportunities. Even in the early stages of philosophical thought—beginning with Plato’s reflections on social well-being and extending to Aristotle—justice was viewed as a fundamental principle that defines what the law should be and what equality among people should look like. These classical ideas continue to inspire us today, reminding us that social institutions must strive to establish a balance between individual freedom and societal needs.

The main idea is that restricting freedom is acceptable only in the case of a conscious choice, when a sacrifice is made for the common good. This approach prevents any form of coercion and emphasizes the value of individual dignity. In the modern context, this assertion is reflected in the concept of distributing societal goods: shifting from strict merit-based distribution to a principle of meeting each person’s needs. Contemporary thinkers, such as John Rawls, stress that justice is the cornerstone of any social institution, enabling a harmonious balancing of the interests of all members of society.

In conclusion, justice today appears as a complex, multifaceted synthesis of legal, social, and ethical principles. It is an aspiration to create a system where freedom, equality, and the consideration of individual characteristics serve as the guiding principles in making public decisions. We can confidently look to the future if social institutions continue to develop mechanisms capable of minimizing manifestations of egoism and injustice, steering us toward an ideal world where every individual has a real chance at a fulfilling life.

What is the meaning of justice and how can it be interpreted in modern society?

The meaning of justice can be seen as an aspiration for a society in which every person’s freedom is an inalienable basis for equal rights and opportunities, as well as the ultimate goal toward which all social institutions should strive. In this understanding, justice encompasses several interconnected aspects.

First, justice requires freedom for all people. This means that any restrictions must be imposed only on the basis of free choice and for the sake of the common good, and not through coercion that deprives a person of their dignity. As stated in one of the cited sources:
"Justice requires freedom for all people. I may restrict my freedom in the name of pity for people, but I can only do so freely and only in this case does it have value. Coerced sacrifice has no value." (source: link txt)

Second, the idea of justice serves not only as a regulator of existing social relations but also as an ideal to be pursued. This approach implies that justice should become the ultimate goal of societal aspirations. This is reflected in discussions on the distribution of goods, where justice is viewed through the lens of moving from distribution “by work” to distribution “by needs”:
"The idea of justice, by its very nature, can serve not only as a practical regulator of already existing, and far from perfect, human relations, but also as the ultimate goal of societal aspirations. For example, in Marxism, such an understanding of justice was associated with the 'distribution of consumer goods' not 'by work', but 'by needs'." (source: link txt, page: 7)

The tradition of classical philosophical discourse on justice is also significant. Plato saw justice as one of the foundations of social well-being, while Aristotle noted that justice manifests as a normative principle that defines what the law should mandate and what equality in relationships between people should be:
"Plato, in the dialogue 'The Statesman', while discussing social life, saw in the idea of justice one of its foundations for well-being. Aristotle in 'Nicomachean Ethics' distinguished two kinds of justice. First, 'justice is what the law requires to be done'. Second, 'justice in relation to another is, essentially, equality'." (source: link txt, page: 32)

In modern interpretations, justice is also understood through the prism of equal opportunities and the distribution of public goods. Modern theorists, such as John Rawls, view justice as “the first virtue of a social institution,” meaning it is the fundamental principle that enables society to balance the interests of all its citizens:
"John Rawls, a modern investigator of the problem of justice, believes that justice is 'the first virtue of a social institution'." (source: link txt, page: 30)

Thus, justice in modern society can be interpreted as a synthesis of legal, social, and ethical components, with a primary focus on freedom, equality, and the just distribution of goods. This implies creating laws that reflect objective equality while also taking into account the individual characteristics of each person, along with the aspiration to develop social mechanisms that minimize manifestations of egoism and injustice.