Week 11 Lecture

Just Society

A society that upholds principles of fairness, equality, and justice for all its members.

Difficulty of defining 'justice'

The challenge of establishing a clear and universally accepted definition of justice.

Morality

Principles and values that determine what is right and wrong.

Ethics

The study of moral principles and how they guide human behavior.

Righteousness

Acting in accordance with moral and ethical principles.

Human rights

Fundamental rights and freedoms that every individual is entitled to.

Natural law

Universal principles that govern human behavior and are derived from nature itself.

Distributive Justice

The fair distribution of resources, wealth, and power in society to ensure that basic needs are met.

Social Justice

The idea that individuals have an obligation to actively participate in society, and society has a duty to enable their participation.

Commutative Justice

The call for fairness in agreements and exchanges between individuals or private social groups.

Hinduism

The religion that expresses justice through concepts such as dharma, karma, and the caste system.

Islam

The religion that emphasizes justice as rooted in God's divine nature and calls for fairness and compassion towards all people.

Judaism

The religion that sees justice as a primary attribute of God and emphasizes righteousness and kindness in human conduct.

Christianity

The religion that views justice as conforming to God's moral perfection and emphasizes caring for the vulnerable and promoting peace.

Natural Law

Timeless principles given by nature itself that govern all of humanity and are binding upon all human beings.

Gregory Baum and Social Sin

Baum's concept of social sin and the four levels of social sin used to analyze systemic injustices.

Pastoral Circle Process

A model for identifying and addressing injustice through involvement, exploration, reflection, and action.

Direct Service

Charitable works that provide immediate assistance to individuals in crisis.

Social Action

Addressing the root causes of injustices and working towards systemic change.

Catholic Social Teaching

The teachings of the Catholic Church on social, economic, political, and cultural matters, based on principles such as the dignity of the human person and the dignity of work.

Dignity of the human person

The belief that all humans have inherent worth and should be treated with respect and dignity.

Euthanasia

The act of intentionally ending a person's life to relieve their suffering, which is not justified by Catholics.

Dignity of work

The belief that work has inherent value and that all individuals have the right to work, earn decent wages, and have safe working conditions.

The economy serves the people

The principle that the economy should prioritize the well-being of individuals and communities, rather than individuals serving the economy.

The common good

The idea that individuals realize their dignity and rights in relationship with others in the community, and should work together to improve the well-being of all persons.

Rights and responsibilities

The understanding that individuals have both rights and responsibilities, and that decisions should be made by those closest and most affected by the issues.

Subsidiarity

The principle that decisions should be made by the people closest and most affected by the issues and concerns.

Option for the poor

The belief that society should prioritize the needs and well-being of the poor and vulnerable, and show preferential care for them.

Global solidarity

The recognition that all humans are part of one family and have an obligation to promote the rights of all people, especially those who are vulnerable or oppressed.

Care for creation

The responsibility to protect and steward the earth and its resources, ensuring that all can share in its benefits.

Expanding awareness of injustices

Actions such as peaceful demonstrations, rallies, marches, protests, and campaigns to elected officials to raise awareness about social injustices.