ABSTRACT
Most people firmly believe in social justice, even though they do not really know what the phrase means. Justice is applicable only as a rule for an individuals conduct. Indeed, the relativity of justice is related to the nonrelative classic definition: giving each person his due; or distributing goods based on internal reasons. In a society whose social meanings are integrated and hierarchical, justice comes to mean inequality. Justice, as the opposite of tyranny, is concerned with terrifying experiences of human beings, especially in recent modern times. As the social world changes distributive justice takes on a different character. Eternal vigilance does not guarantee eternity. Rejecting a theory of justice does not mean rejecting rational discourse about justice. Reflective discourse about justice makes arguments, but these are not intended to be definitive demonstrations. A theory of justice that attempts to produce claims with characteristics of universality and comprehensiveness by necessity combines moral reflection with scientific knowledge.
