Economics Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Justice: Justice can be understood as the fair and impartial treatment of all people. It is often associated with the law. Some key elements are fairnes, equality, proportionality, accountability. See also Law, Rights, Equality, Impartiality._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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Adam Smith on Justice - Dictionary of Arguments
Otteson I 20 Justice/Adam Smith/Otteson: In his 1759 Theory of Moral Sentiments(1), Adam Smith divides moral virtue into two broad categories: "justice" and "beneficence." Smith describes "justice" as a "negative" virtue, meaning that to fulfill it we must merely refrain from injuring others. By contrast, "beneficence" is a "positive" virtue, meaning that to fulfill it we must engage in positive action to improve others' situations. Beneficence includes for Smith things like charity, generosity, and friendship, things that inspire gratitude in the beneficiaries of our actions. Justice, on the other hand, requires that we do not harm or injure others; if we breach justice, then we inspire resentment in those we hurt. It turns out, Smith argues, that there are only three rules of justice: (1) the rule to "guard the life and person of our neighbor"; (2) the rule to "guard [our neighbor's] property and possessions"; and (3) the rule to "guard what are called [our neighbor's] personal rights, or what is due to him from the promises of others" (TMS(1): 84). Smith's argument is that if we do not kill, enslave, or molest others; if we do not steal from, trespass on, or damage another's property; and if we do not renege on voluntary contracts or promises we have made: then we will have acted with justice toward others. The just person, then, is the one who, whatever else he does, causes no harm or injury to others (…). As Smith strikingly puts it: "We may often fulfil all the rules of justice by sitting still and doing nothing" (TMS(1): 82). >Charity/Adam Smith, >Morality/Adam Smith, >Community/Adam Smith. Otteson I 21 Rules: Smith calls the rules of justice "sacred," which may seem an oddly strong word for an account claiming that moral virtues arise on the basis of experience and interactions among individuals. Why would he call justice "sacred"? The answer is that Smith believes that the rules of justice turn out to be necessary for any society to exist. He calls them "the foundation which supports the building" that is society, whereas he calls beneficence "the ornament which embellishes" society (TMS(1): 86). A society filled with people who fulfill the rules of justice perfectly - who, that is, never harm others in their persons, property, or promises - but who do not engage in beneficent action toward one another may not be the most inviting society in which to live. But it can survive. >Justice/Peter SingerVsSmith, >Community/Adam Smith. Government/solution/Adam SmithVsSinger: (…) government may be tasked with enforcing justice, but (…) acting with and enforcing proper beneficence must be left to individuals and private parties. >Charity/Adam Smith. 1. Smith, Adam (1982) [1759]. The Theory of Moral Sentiments. D. D. Raphael and A. L. Macfie, eds. Liberty Fund._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
EconSmith I Adam Smith The Theory of Moral Sentiments London 2010 EconSmithV I Vernon L. Smith Rationality in Economics: Constructivist and Ecological Forms Cambridge 2009 Otteson I James R. Otteson The Essential Adam Smith Vancouver: Fraser Institute. 2018 |
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