Adam Smith Justice Flashcards
justice differs from other virtues in these ways
1) social or political virtue
2) justice may be extracted by force
3) like rules of grammar
4) a negative virtue
justice has several meanings
1) commutative justice
2) distributive justice
3) comprehensive virtue of character
justice is necessary for:
social order
who is essential for justice?
the impartial spectator
why are rules of justice sacred?
they are about human life which is sacred in the eyes of God
what metaphor does he give for the rules of justice?
the rules of grammar because they are also precise and accurate
what is justice primarily about?
not harming others, negative virtue
evolution of justice
- Rude Stage
- Shepherding Stage
- Agricultural Stage
- Commercial Stage
Rude Stage
there is no private property and what is justice is decided by consensual agreement
Shepherding Stage
some gov’t starts emerging, but there are no laws of justice
Agricultural Stage
there is more property and property relations are getting more complex, gov’t legislate justice
commercial stage
further complexities lead to rules of justice in becoming institutinos
why does gov’t emerge
because perfect virtue is lacking. if people were perfectly virtuous they would impose justice on themselves
commutative justice
about not harming others, harming a person, then rank and reputation, then property
Distributive Justice
we do something positively for someone else if what we do benefits them
Comprehensive Virtue of Character
we are unjust if we do not value a person in what way the impartial spectator would value a person
Wealth of Nations, who is responsible for justice?
the sovereign, and it’s necessary for commerce, contracts…
would fertile land be cultivated without justice?
no
What does justice provide?
security
who plays the role of moderating the agent’s resentment?
the impartial spectator decides how much resentment they should feel, they won’t go along with the agent if they don’t agree
what does it mean to say justice is a negative virtue
means that justice is about not doing things, specifically things that injure others
how are markets and justice related?
markets can’t function without justice, commerce can’t flourish without justice - without justice even fertile land isn’t cultivated - monopolies can harm others and prevent commerce from flourishing - anyone even if self interested could bring in his capacities and take part in a commercial or market system as long as he doesn’t harm others, you can compete in a self interested way, but can’t violate others
