WHY JUSTICE?

I. Plato’s Take on Justice

• Context: Socratic Dialogue in The Republic (381 BCE).

• Core Definition: Practicing what one's nature is best suited for; builds virtue and satisfies human need ("justice is to the soul as health is to the body").

• Social Impact: Creates a harmonious social bond.

II. Types of Justice

• Commutative/Contractual: Level agreements between parties keeping their word.

• Legal: Citizen accountability and protection of peace and social order through the judicial system.

• Retributive: Proportionate punishment for wrongful acts.

• Restorative: Repairing harm caused by criminal behavior through encounter, amends, reintegration, and inclusion.

• Distributive: Society or government obligations to individual members based on needs, contributions, and responsibilities.

• Social/Contributive: Applying the Gospel and human dignity (Imago Dei) to establish just relations between individuals and society.

III. The Church’s Response

• Core Beliefs: Humans possess free will, are created for loving relationships (with God, others, and creation), and are called to respond to suffering with compassion.

• Outcome: The framework of Catholic Social Teaching.

Catholic Social Teaching Def:

The teaching of the Church examines human society in light of the Gospel teaching for the purpose of guiding Christians as they carry on the mission of Jesus.