Aristotle on justice

Fairness grew through repeated action

Aristotle held that a fair character developed through practice rather than good intentions alone. People became just through repeated just actions. Practical wisdom mattered because sound judgment required attention to the particular situation, not only knowledge of general rules.

Choice mattered when judging responsibility

His account of responsibility distinguished knowing choices from actions done under force or through ignorance followed by regret. He allowed room for pardon or pity in such cases, connecting moral judgment with the circumstances in which a person acted.

His social assumptions limited fairness

In his political thought, Aristotle defended slavery and expressed a low view of women. These were prejudices of his time, and they were wrong. They marked serious limits in his account of a community ordered toward a good life.

Ещё: Aristotle