ABSTRACT

We are moral beings. Social justice is embedded in this basic assumption. Inherent in the idea of justice is that some behaviors are better than others, and, most signifi - cantly, that all people have the “right” to be treated in particularly moral ways. In this sense, the United States’ Declaration of Independence is a moral document as it makes certain moral assumptions-all people are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (for other examples, search the internet for the United Nations Human Rights Council , the Nuremberg Code, the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki, and the Navajo Nation Human Research Code ). At an interpersonal level, when we make statements like, “You can’t do that!” “You owe me,” “Don’t treat him that way!” or “I should have . . .” we are assuming some behaviors are right or wrong , good or bad —we are operating according to moral standards. As we discussed in Chapter Two : “Just Relationships,” all people have a sense of justice in their relationships. And, although what is considered just varies by relationship and culture, to pursue socially just relationships is to pursue moral relationships, or what one considers “good” relationships.