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The thoughts of Aristotle on Distributive Justice : The concept of Aristotle with regard to the distributive justice is that the distribution of post – glory and property should not be in arithmetic proportion, instead, it should be in geometric proportion. That is to say that all should not get equal share. It should be on the basis of qualification of an individual. In this connection Aristotle has the concept that:

1. Distribution of power and protection should be in accordance with qualification and contribution of an individual. 

2. Aristotle favours proportionate equality. 

3. According to Aristotle, the authority of the state should be given to those having qualification and capability of governance. 

4. Benefit and responsibility should be in proportion to capacity and capability of a person.

Corrective or reformative justice arranges for ‘curb’ of abuses of citizens’ rights by other persons. 

In this connection, Aristotle has described the following two duties of a state : 

1. State should protect life, honour, property and liberty of an individual. 

2. State should protect the rights of a person, acquired from distributive justice.

In the corrective justice of Aristotle, it is the responsibility of the state to protect life, property, liberty and honour of persons.

Corrective justice of Aristotle implies to the curb of “Abuses” of rights of citizens by other persons.

According to distributive justice of Aristotle, filling of political posts should be in accordance with qualification of citizens and service rendered by them for the state.

Aristotle’s distributive theory emphasises that the distribution of power could be in accordance with ability and contribution of an individual.

According to Aristotle, justice is related to the regulation of human relations.

The objective of Aristotle’s reformative justice is to defence the rights of the citizens from those who interfere them.

Socialist thinker, Karl Marx has mentioned about economic inequalities.

Plato, in his theory of justice has described three elements in human soul – Greed, Bravery and Intellect.

According to Plato, “To perform designated work by an individual and not to interfere unnecessarily into the deeds of others, is justice.

Saint Augustine and Thomas Aquinas.

The following analysis can be done in respect of similarity and dissimilarity of Indian and Western concepts of Justice : 

Similarity :

1. Western and Indian thinkers have accepted the impartiality of justice as an important factor in political system. 

2. In both the concepts, there has been emphasis on compliance of duty of an individual. 

3. According to both the concepts, to perform designated works by an individual and not to interfere into others’ works is justice. 

4. Like Western thinkers, ancient Indian thinkers, Manu and Kautilya, have also emphasised on impartiality and truthfulness of justice. 

5. Both the concepts have similarity in respect of protection of life and property of the people, and to punish those who spread disorder and are anti-social. 

6. The concept of religion available in ancient Indian political and social philosophy is quite similar to the principle of justice of Plato.

Dissimilarity :

1. In Western tradition, the form of justice is analysed on the basis of qualities of a good character person, whereas in Indian philosophy, religion, itself, is recognised in the form of justice. 

2. Whereas the concept of justice of Plato was basically political and social, on the other hand, in Indian philosophy, justice was accepted in legal form.

1. Personal justice, 

2. Social or State related justice.

Though they are immoral attacks on justice, she has exited because of its inherent strength. She is still like rock. She is cool like ice. Due to her such a strength no one can be able to find a way to attract her soul. No way is there to influence here.

In the opinion of the poet in the present poem is that in the present days, justice has become a commodity of sale for some people. Though, there are immoral attacks on justice, it has survived the test of time only because of inherent strength.

Justice, which is exchanged for earning is no justice. Exchanging for earning is a trade. Today justice has become a commodity of sale for some people. Though there are immoral attacks on justice, it has survived the test of time only because of its inherent Strength. Still the justice struggles for its survival. She is cool like ice. She is still like rock. There is no way to attract her soul, but hardship makes her no more Justice. In justice makes her not a true justice. Now a days she is influenced by so called great and popular people Justice is shackled or chanced to bribe and greed she is pulled out by the popular people, or so called great people. They are to exploit her. They have kept her in the thick jungle of hightless night (in dark house). She is caught by, these people like a rat in the bag of death and like deer caught in lion’s resting place. In such a situation, she never reaches her self by herself. At present justice is forever from truth. The truth, that is God is pulled out from heart. She has lost her struggle for the right course. Indeed Justice is dead.

“Republic” is the name of the book in which Plato has represented his views about justice.

Aristotle, Kautilya, Vrihaspati, Shukra, Vidur, Bhardwaj, Somdev, etc. are the Indian expounders of justice.

The famous book of john Rawls is ‘The Theory of justice”. In this book, he has analysed social justice in modem context. He has objected to the justice-related traditional thoughts. 

Rawls’s justice related thoughts are based on two concepts :

1. Every person has equal right to get equal fundamental freedom, which all should get equally.

 2. Social and economic disparities should be arranged in such a way that:

• The most backward persons should get maximum benefit, and 
•  Every individual, in the situation of equality of proper opportunity, should have assignment and repute.

Rawls has endeavoured to present the principle of justice on priority basis and therefore he says that there should be restriction on freedom for the protection of freedom. Rawls regards such a principle as the best for the society, whereas the people themselves accept the veil of ignorance. In this situation, every person is basically overwhelmed with moral powers and he becomes a moral person.

The historical development of justice can be described with the help of the following points: 

(i) Plato’s theory of Justice : 

First of all, the thoughts of justice were presented by Plato, the Greek philosopher. Plato in his book ‘Republic’ elaborately describes the nature of justice and its related subjects. According to Plato, justice is such a virtue by which a person searches his good from the welfare of all.

According to the convention of Plato, justice is a concept, wherein every person performs his designated task and does not intervene into the tasks of others. Plato regards two forms of justice – personal justice and social or state-related justice. According to Plato, like the justice embedded in human soul balances different sides of personality, in the similar way, justice pervaded in the state makes coordination among ruler class, soldier class and producer class of the society.

(ii) Aristotle’s theory of Justice : 

Like Plato, Aristotle also regards justice an important element for a state. According to Aristotle, the justice is regulated by human emotions. A state comes into existence only after the eruption of justice in people’s mind. Whatever is equal, judicious, appropriate is included in justice. According to Aristotle, justice is of two types : 

1. Distributive or political justice, 

2. Corrective justice.

Distributive justice emphasises that filling of political posts should be on the basis of equality of citizens and services rendered by them. In corrective justice, it is duty of a state to protect life, property, honour and liberty of an individual.

Justice-related thoughts in Medieval Period : 

In medieval period, different Christian thinkers defined the justice in different ways. Saint Augustine presented concept of divine state and regarded justice an important element. Thomas Aquinas regards equality, the base of justice. He says, ‘Justice is embedded in spending a systematic and disciplined life and obeyance of duties, which a system demands for.”

Justice-related Concept in Modern Period : 

The main proponents of justice-related Concepts in modem times are David Humes, Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill etc. According to Humes, public utility is the sole source of justice. Jeremy Bentham, proponent of utilitarianism, says that distribution of public goods and services should be on the basis of utility .John Stuart Mill regards justice an important element of social utility.

Justice-related throughts of John Rawls : 

He has analysed justice in modem context in his book “A Theory of Justice”. Rawls regards the most appropriate justice to a theory wherein people accept ‘blinds of ignorance’ on their own. Justice-related Concept in Indian Political Philosophy : Manu, Kautilya, Shukra, Vidura, etc. regard justice a soul of state. Manu and Kautilya emphasise on impartiality and truth in justice and say that the king, who cannot arrange a system of justice to his subjects, does not deserve to live.

Plato wrote ‘Republic’.

 St. Augustine.

(b)  Aristotle

(d) St. Augustine

(d) Jeremi Bentham

(b) John Rawls

Justice is directly related to morality. Any person, having thoughts, behaviour, attitude and work in accordance with moral rules, is regarded as being a justified person. Therefore, in the beginning a justified and good character person was talked about. According to Indian tradition, a person having religious orientation cannot go immoral.

Other thinkers, such as David Humes, John Stuart Mill etc. have also stressed a system for distribution of public goods and services for maximum persons. All these justice related thoughts indicate that justice is fundamentally a moral principle wherein public welfare has been given top priority.

Justice has been defined in different ways by different thinkers. Spirit of justice binds people in discipline so that while respecting others’ rights, they are devoted to their own duties as well. Since ancient times, concept of justice has been an important subject of political thought. 

Different political thinkers have given different definitions of justice :

According to Plato : 

“To work what is designated by a person and not to interfere into others’ works is justice.”

According to Aristotle : 

“The only base of origin of justice is public utility.”

According to Saint Augustine : 

“Justice is embedded in spending systematic and disciplined life and following those duties, which a system demands for.”

Traditional Theory of Justice : 

In the traditional theory of justice, justice is defined against the assumption of good virtues, good character, good deeds, spirituality and appropriateness of a human. All works which are upto the marks on these attributes are called in accordance with justice. According to Plato, ‘Justice is virtue of a soul.” The way the rule of justice balances all the sides of human personality, exactly in the same way, the pervasive rule in the society establishes coordination in all the three classes – rulers, soldiers and producers.

According to Aristotle, whatever is appropriate and legal, which has faith in equal and appropriate distribution, is justice. Saint Augustine regards justice an inevitable element. In the thoughts related to the initial convention of justice, human’s morality, his virtues and natural elements as having been given by God, are thought to be conception of justice.

Plato has regarded justice a quality of soul. According to Plato, “Inherent justice in an individual’s soul is equal to inherent justice in a state”. The justice of soul balances many angles of a personality and likewise, the justice in a state builds coordination in three classes of a society – Ruler, soldiers and producers. Plato has clarified justice in the form of moral principle. 

Plato, in his book ‘Republic’, has described justice-related thoughts. According to him, justice means freedom to work by an individual and no interference into the works of others. 

Plato has narrated two forms of justice –

1. Personal and 

2. Social or state-related.

Social justice emphasizes on such a system in society in which there is no discrimination amongst individuals on the basis of social status and each person gets full opportunity to develop his/her personality. Political justice should be based on equality. In a state system, all persons should have equal rights and opportunities. Political justice rejects discrimination and inequality.

It is a reality that social justice and political justice are incomplete until each man gets full opportunities of development of his personality. Until man is backward from economic point of view, social and political justice are useless and they are only the imaginations.