The evolution of justice
Abstract
The objective is to compile a range of conceptions of justice as developed by various thinkers throughout human history. Particular emphasis will be placed on those concepts that have been pivotal in shaping the social conventions of Western civilization, as they have served as the foundation for the principles, beliefs, and values upon which these societies were constructed. Specifically, this study will examine doctrines originating in ancient Greece, Rome, and within the Christian tradition. As the inquiry advances into modernity, the Enlightenment will be explored through the philosophical frameworks of Kant and Bentham. The analysis will then proceed to engage with contemporary contributions by Dworkin, Habermas, Rawls, Sandel, and Prieto Sanchís. The central aim is to understand how the evolution of societal problems, intertwined with the development of civilization, has led to increasingly complex conceptions of justice. The shift from an individualistic to a communal perspective, along with the recognition of particularist viewpoints, has required that human conduct be analyzed not merely through the lens of formalism and consequentialism, but also in light of the underlying values and beliefs that shape our actions. These must be subject to critical discourse and contextual reflection.
Keywords
Justice, social conventions, deontic, modernity, evolution
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