Education and social justice

Social justice id both a philosophical debate and an important issue in politics and in a civic society. Most individuals wish to live in a just society but different political ideologies have different concepts of what a just society actually is. In general terms social justice can be defined not only as equality of opportunity but also as equality of outcome.

 The addition of the world” social justice” clearly distinguishes ” social justice” from the concept of “justice” as applied in the law or state administered systems. Some ideologists relate it with individual freedom and some link it with a just distribution of opportunities. Justice is simply related to the enforcement of a formal  mechanism of control for an unacceptable behavior. social justice as an informal concept of justice refers to the overall fairness of a society in its divisions and distributions of rewards and opportunities. social justice derives its authority from the codes of morality prevailing in each culture:

 The idea of social justice may grip some or all of the following beliefs:

1 historical inequities insofar as they affect current injustices should be corrected until the actual inequities no longer exist or have been perceptively negated

2. the redistribution of wealth power and status for the individual, community should take place to obtain social justice.

3. it is governments responsibility to  ensure a basic quality of life for all its citizens.

social justice is a concept that has fascinated theorists ever since. Plato in the republic ritualistic the argument that an ideal state would rest on four virtues wisdom, courage, restraint,, and justice. Hence, true social justice is attained only through the harmonious co operative efforts of the citizens who in their own self interest accept the current norms of morality as the price of membership in the community.

 The next major impetus for the development of this concept is linked with Thomas Aquinas who says  justice is  a certain rectitude of mind whereby a man does what he ought to do in the circumstances’ confronting him as a theologian Aquinas believed that  justice is a form of natural duty owed by one person to another and not enforced by any human made law. This reflects this Christian view that befor god all people are equal and must treat each other with respect. John locks (1632=1704) argued that people have innate natural goodness and beauty and so in the long run if individuals rationally pursue their private happiness and pleasure the interests of the society or the general welfare will be looked after fairly. Immanuel kant believed  that actions are morally right if they if they are motivated by duty without regard to any personal goal desire motive or self interest.