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Social Justice

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Submitted By modance23
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In understanding justice we must look at how the common good, optimal health, optimal well-being and social justice work together in defining justice. In this paper I will do so by using the Six Theories of Justice (Lebacqz,1986) to combine these concepts. There is not one definition of justice but many aspects / characteristics and theories that formulate to make up this concept of justice.
The perspective of utilitarianism will be discussed through the likes of John Stuart Mill (as cited in Lebacqz, 1986). The basic idea of utilitarianism is mainly about whatever can produce the most good is the right thing to do. The production of what is good also fosters happiness, which is what we desire naturally. I agree with this particular concept because I feel for myself I am constantly in search of happiness and doing things and fostering relationships that make me happy. Happiness is natural and I feel that it promotes optimal health, optimal well-being and encourages the common good.
I believe optimal health is the state of being stable mentally, physically and spiritually. For example, if I am stressed I am not happy mentally, physically or spiritually. Stress causes changes to each one of these areas: mentally I may be feeling overwhelmed, therefore my mood becomes more irritable; physically, stress causes me to get headaches and spiritually, stress causes me to not depend on the word of the Lord and his goodness. Proverbs 16:20 states “He that handles a matter wisely shall find good: and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.”
I believe optimal well-being to be about achieving the best quality of life. This in turn is about achieving your goals that of which will bring happiness. In utilitarianism, I believe the common good is about helping achieve the most optimal results when helping others.

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