ABSTRACT
Throughout history it is not difficult to find examples in society in which entire segments of the population have not received just, fair, and equal treatment; that is, principles of morality are applied to some, but not all, members of societies and cultures. Social commentators have extensively analyzed and scrutinized examples of both consistencies and inconsistencies in individual social and moral decision making throughout history. One such example is the recent reexamination of the private lives and famous words espoused by the founding fathers of the United States, who, on the one hand, argued for a new nation in which all people should be treated equally, with unalienable rights, such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and on the other hand, were slaveowners (see the New York Times [December 14, 2003] for a review of recent books on this topic). This example raises a number of compelling questions about human nature and morality: How can individuals who believe in equality for all treat others in such a manner that violates basic principles of fairness and justice? Does the violation then indicate a lack of understanding about the principles of fairness and justice or is it something else?
