What Is Justice Crash Course Philosophy #40

Ever been cut off in traffic and thought, "That's not fair!"? Congratulations, you've just wrestled with the age-old question of justice! It's something we all feel instinctively, but defining it? That's where things get hilariously complicated.

What is Justice? Crash Course Philosophy #40: A Whirlwind Tour

The Crash Course Philosophy series, in episode #40, takes a stab at this beast. Think of it as a philosophical rodeo – you're trying to hold on tight while different ideas buck and spin. Spoiler alert: there's no easy answer!

Plato and the Perfectly Just City (Hold the Pizza)

First up, we have Plato. He envisioned a perfectly just city. Imagine a society where everyone has a specific role, meticulously assigned to them based on their skills. No career changes allowed! Think of it like a really intense job aptitude test gone wild.

The problem? This sounds less like a utopia and more like a dystopian nightmare. Who decides who does what? And what if you're really good at accounting and making pizza? Sorry, Plato's city only allows one dream per person.

Utilitarianism: The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number (Unless You're in the Minority)

Next, we meet utilitarianism. It's all about maximizing happiness for the most people. Sounds great, right? Until you realize that the happiness of the majority might come at the expense of the minority.

Imagine a town where 90% of the residents love polka music. To maximize happiness, they mandate polka music 24/7. The other 10%? Tough luck! Utilitarianism can accidentally justify some pretty unfair things if you're not careful.

Egalitarianism: Everyone Gets a Trophy (Maybe a Bit Too Much?)

Then there's egalitarianism, which champions equality above all else. Everyone gets the same resources, the same opportunities, the same everything. Seems fair, but what if some people are naturally more talented or work harder?

If you work tirelessly and create something amazing, should you get the same reward as someone who barely tries? Egalitarianism can lead to some serious debates about fairness versus equality. It also has a problem of destroying incentive to strive to improve.

Libertarianism: Hands Off My Stuff!

Now for libertarianism: the philosophy of "leave me alone!" You have the right to your property and your freedom, as long as you don't harm others. The problem? What about those who start out with nothing?

If someone is born into poverty with no opportunities, is it really "just" to let them fend for themselves? Libertarianism can inadvertently perpetuate inequalities if it doesn't consider the starting point of individuals.

Justice: Still a Work in Progress

So, what *is* justice? The Crash Course episode doesn't give us a definitive answer. But that's the beauty of philosophy! It's not about finding the right answer, but about exploring the questions and challenging your own assumptions.

Maybe justice is a little bit of all of these things, carefully balanced and constantly re-evaluated. Maybe it's an ongoing conversation, a constant striving to make the world a little bit fairer, one awkward philosophical debate at a time.

Next time you see something unfair, remember Plato, the utilitarians, the egalitarians, and the libertarians. They might not have had all the answers, but they definitely got us thinking!