Title: Principles of Justice and Fairness | Beyond Intractability
Headings: Principles of Justice and Fairness
Principles of Justice and Fairness
Current Implications
Justice Versus Fairness
Deserts, Equity, Equality, and Need
Impartiality, Consistency, Standing, and Trust
What is So Important about the Principles of Justice
Current Implications
Additional Resources

Content: People often frame justice issues in terms of fairness and invoke principles of justice and fairness to explain their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the organizations they are part of, as well as their state or government. [ 3] They want institutions to treat them fairly and to operate according to fair rules. What constitutes fair treatment and fair rules is often expressed by a variety of justice principles. Deserts, Equity, Equality, and Need
The principles of equity, equality, and need are most relevant in the context of distributive justice, but might play a role in a variety of social justice issues. [ 4] These principles all appeal to the notion of desert, the idea that fair treatment is a matter of giving people what they deserve. In general, people deserve to be rewarded for their effort and productivity, punished for their transgressions, treated as equal persons, and have their basic needs met. However, because these principles may come into conflict, it is often difficult to achieve all of these goals simultaneously. Equity
Equality
Neutrality
Consistency
Deserts
Need
"Fair Share"
"Fair Play"
Standing
Trust
According to the principle of equity, a fair economic system is one that distributes goods to individuals in proportion to their input. While input typically comes in the form of productivity, ability or talent might also play a role. People who produce more or better products...either by working harder, or by being more talented, this argument goes, should be paid more for their efforts than should people who produce less.