Buddhism and justice
On this topic
Date: Mon, 09 Oct 1995 14:37:25 +0100
From: "peter.harvey"
Subject: Buddhism and justice
Damien Keown wrote:
'the Buddha recognised that individuals were owed RESPECT and that it would be
wrong (unjust) to treat them in ways incompatible with that resepect..'
As the topic of 'justice' may be coming up this second week, would someone like
to give a neat definition of what 'just/unjust' and 'justice' mean in a Western
context? This may help us see how the concept may relate to Buddhistm ideas.
Peter Harvey
Date: Mon, 09 Oct 1995 14:24:49 -0400
From: Sally Clay
Subject: Re: Buddhism and justice
Peter Harvey wrote:
>As the topic of 'justice' may be coming up this second week, would someone like
to give a neat definition of what 'just/unjust' and 'justice' mean in a Western
context? This may help us see how the concept may relate to Buddhistm ideas.
Well, for starters, here is what I found in my online American Heritage Dictionary:
-------- start quote --------
jus'tice, n.
1. The quality of being just; fairness.
2.a. The principle of moral rightness; equity. b. Conformity to moral rightness
in action or attitude; righteousness.
3.a. The upholding of what is just, especially fair treatment and due reward in
accordance with honor, standards, or law. b. Law. The administration and
procedure of law.
4. Conformity to truth, fact, or sound reason.-----------------
-idiom.
do justice to.
To treat adequately, fairly, or with full appreciation. -----------------
Noun: The quality or state of being just and unbiased. fairness, detachment,
disinterest, impartiality, objectivity, justness, objectiveness,
disinterestedness, dispassion, dispassionateness, equitableness, fair-mindedness,
nonpartisanship.
Noun: The state, action, or principle of treating all persons equally in
accordance with the law. equity, equitableness. -------- end quote --------
IMHO, this all fits very nicely with the Buddhist concepts of equanimity and
right action.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sally Clay, Zangmo Blue Thundercloud
*** Northampton, Mass.
"Where the coffee is strong and so are the women."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Date: Mon, 09 Oct 1995 16:04:50 -0400
From: "Steven D. Jamar"
Subject: Re: Buddhism and justice
>As the topic of 'justice' may be coming up this second week, would someone like
to give a neat definition of what 'just/unjust' and 'justice' mean in a Western
context?
I'll bite:
The OJ verdict was unjust because a murderer went free.
The OJ verdict was just because the state did not prove its case beyond a
reasonable doubt.
The OJ verdict was unjust because the value of the lives of two victims became
discounted.
The OJ verdict was just because the state violated OJ's constitutional rights
when it did an improper search and seizure without a warrant.
The OJ verdict was unjust because it improperly calls into question the
legitimacy of the entire criminal justice system.
The OJ verdict was just because it will encourage the criminal justice system in
LA to improve its techniques and to purge racism from the police.
The OJ verdict was just because it was payback for Rodney King.
The OJ verdict was just because it shows a black man can buy justice just like
the Menendez brothers.
The OJ verdict was unjust because it will give comfort and courage to wife
batterers.
The OJ verdict was just because it shows that a black killing a white woman does
not automatically mean a death sentence any more.
The OJ verdict was unjust because it will discourage battered women from seeking
help in escaping from abusive relationships.
To use a Zen-like response: Who's asking? Who's answering?
Individualized justice - reward and punishment for individual good and bad acts,
respectively. (Single-lifetime karmic consequences?)
Social justice - equality, fairness, even-handedness, inclusion, tolerance,
equity not just before the law, but with respect to the greater society.
Cheers,
Steve Jamar
Date: Mon, 09 Oct 1995 20:31:19 -0400
From: williams
Subject: Re: Buddhism and justice
At 04:04 PM 10/9/95 -0400, Steven D. Jamar wrote:
AAAs the topic of 'justice' may be coming up this second week, would someone like
to give a neat definition of what 'just/unjust' and 'justice' mean in a Western
context?
>I'll bite:
>The OJ verdict was unjust because a murderer went free.
>The OJ verdict was just because the state did not prove its case beyond a
reasonable doubt.
[etc.]
The post was unjust because I don't want to hear about OJ any more.
-----
Sphere.
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 13:27:35 -0400
From: "HOLLY, BRIAN"
Subject: Re: Buddhism and justice
Sally Clay cites the American Heritage Dictionary - one of my favorites:
>1. The quality of being just; fairness.
Are lexicographers reading Rawls? - Brian Holly