In perusing online resources to gain a diversity of opinions from great thinkers throughout history concerning this question, I found the answer is inherently tied to a person’s worldview. Philosophers with a non-religious worldview typically see justice as a cultural construct, while those with a religious worldview see divine origins of justice. Even though the origin and definition of justice is viewed differently between these two camps (even among individual philosophers within each worldview), the importance of it as a necessity of a good and free society is agreed upon universally regardless of culture or time. 

If everyone agrees on the importance of justice, why does its origin matter? The application of justice can vary significantly. A universal definition of justice is fair and equitable treatment. This concept applies to individuals, groups, and nations. The big question is - Who decides what is fair and equitable? The answer to this question determines how and what type of justice is applied, and which individuals and groups will benefit.

Atheists appeal to the natural order to define fair and equitable. They have a difficult proposition simply because in human evolutionary ancestry there is no virtue of justice. One can argue other virtues such as mercy, love, and courage are present, e.g. a mother defending and caring for her young. However, in the cold, heartless world of Evolution, justice simply goes to the strong. The weak are trampled and this is considered good. 

While Evolution as an abstract construct applies a type of justice, i.e. it is fair and equitable that the strong overcome the weak, individual animals display no sentient revelation of justice in any form. Animals simply live and do what is necessary for survival. One can argue the concept of right and wrong is completely absent from all animals save for homo sapiens. The best atheists can do to trace an origin for justice is to simply say that justice helps the social animal homo sapiens survive in the world. Being social creatures, we have evolved to include the virtue of justice in our societies simply because it allows us to compete against other species. Other social animals such as ants and bees do not need justice. Again, the Theory of Evolution provides less foundation for this argument of necessity given that humans are nothing more than bio-chemical machines and all emotion is nothing more than chemical reactions that enable us to survive and perpetuate our species. 

While atheist philosophers like Bertrand Russel and David Hume see religion as useless and harmful, they cannot deny that there is nothing in the evolutionary tree that leads to any origin of justice in humans. The very concept, definition, and application of justice is very similar to religious views. The atheist cannot provide any clear origin for justice outside of the influence of religion.

Now let us focus on religious philosophers and their view of justice. For the sake of brevity, I will focus on Christian philosophers. The source of all virtue, including justice, is God. Psalm 89:14 says, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.” (ESV). There is the foundation of God’s throne – righteousness and justice. This is a profound statement given the many wonderful attributes of God. The concept of acting rightly and applying fairness properly in all situations is described as foundational to God’s being. Consequently, God is the author and source of right and wrong. 

Every human being is created in God’s image and therefore has a sense of right and wrong. When we see injustice, we are grieved, angered, and stirred to action to correct it. As Augustine illustrated in his “Band of Robbers” analogy, even thieves will adhere to a sense of fairness, e.g. all the spoil gets divided equally. Even in sin, we desire justice. This implanted desire for justice God gave us is evident in all cultures throughout human history. Hinduism and many other religions accept that justice has a divine origin. 

Sin has caused mankind to reject God and try to determine the origin of nature and morality. The Apostle Paul made this argument very clearly in Romans 1. However, despite his best efforts, sinful man cannot fully throw off all the Creator’s attributes, and justice is revealed all too clearly. God has implanted justice into the very soul of every human being. When justice is not promoted, people will rise and see that it is implemented. What kind of justice is good? Are there different kinds of justice? Those are questions for another essay. 

In conclusion, justice is a universal ideal implanted by God our Creator as His image bearers.

John Cicone, M. Ed. is currently the Village Administrator for the Rafiki Foundation in Tanzania. He has twenty-three years’ experience in classical education as a teacher and administrator. 

The Rafiki Foundation

 

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