Justice. Principles, theoretical problems, and essentiality as a value, today

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to formulate some questions about a concept, justice, and some of its theoretical problems. When we discuss social and distributive justice, we are not simply pointing to a "state" problem. Justice is a challenge that is incumbent to every human being and, therefore, to everyone, in this era that is undoubtedly that of globalized capitalism. Taking into consideration congress emphasis on exploring dimensions of the human and inquiring into the challenges facing humanity, and our need for global discussions about the values and concepts of development, values and human concerns, trying to find out what concepts might be essential, I think that one of those essential concepts is justice. But the problem begins from its very definition – justice is a concept that, from its root, is indeterminate. Justice comprises multiple meanings: it refers to a human capacity, an ideal and an essential element in social institutions, as well as a double but, at the same time, a singular dimension, individual and sociopolitical. My pretension is to explore some meanings of justice opening a dialogical perspective, believing that this is a fertile way to consider actual world challenges.