Evolution of Justice Concepts: From Ancient Philosophy to Modern Theories
Generations of Human Rights
Human rights are fundamental moral values and a model for the State’s structure. They are often categorized into generations:
- 1st Generation: Civil and Political Rights – Emphasizing individual liberties, often associated with the Rule of Law.
- 2nd Generation: Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights – Focusing on equality and the role of the social state of law.
- 3rd Generation: Peace, Environment, and Development Rights – Centered on solidarity and mutual cooperation among
Plato’s Theory of Forms and Soul: Knowledge and Reality
Plato’s Theory of Knowledge: Forms and Reality
Plato’s Theory of Knowledge builds upon Socratic principles. It posits that the senses can deceive us, and true knowledge resides in universal, permanent, and stable entities. This contrasts with the ever-changing appearances of the sensible world, emphasizing the distinction between essence versus appearance.
Influences include Heraclitus’s concept of constant flux and Socrates’s pursuit of universal definitions.
Levels of Knowledge and Reality
Plato distinguishes
Read MoreUnderstanding Social Science and Philosophical Inquiry
Social Science Methods
The goal of social science is to understand social reality. This pursuit gives the social sciences the following features:
- Predictive capacity is lower than in natural sciences.
- Generalization ability is lower than in natural sciences.
- Value neutrality is often impossible.
Do social sciences use the same methods as natural sciences? The response points to two different traditions: the empirical-analytic and the hermeneutic. The first tradition advocates applying the methods of
Read MoreUnderstanding Wittgenstein’s Mirror Theory of Language
Wittgenstein’s Philosophy: Language, Thought, and Reality
Ludwig Wittgenstein, the Austrian philosopher, studied with Bertrand Russell. During the First World War, he wrote his seminal work, the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. The structure of the Tractatus is characterized by making a statement and then following it with further elaborations.
Wittgenstein’s Mirror Theory of Language
What is the core intention behind Wittgenstein’s philosophy? It centers on the Theory of the Mirror. In this theory,
Read MoreAbsolutism and the Enlightenment Era
Absolutism
A system of government established in Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Its best example is Louis XIV (the Sun King: everything revolved around him). His famous phrase is: “The state is me“.
It is also called the “Old Regime“.
Features of Absolutism
- All power is held by the King.
- The absolute power of kings is of divine origin; the King is accountable only to God for his actions.
Factors Contributing to Absolute Power
- The nobles desired the riches of the bourgeoisie.
- The bourgeoisie
Human Rights Principles: Equality, Difference, and Social Justice
Envisioning a World of Justice and Solidarity
How can we disrupt current projections of the future and foster renewed hope? By creating a world where we truly embody the values of equal justice and solidarity.
Key Societal Transformations Envisioned
What are the transformative aspirations for society? These include:
- Street children will no longer be treated as disposable; indeed, the very concept of ‘street children’ will cease to exist.
- The world’s physical deserts and the ‘deserts of the soul’ will