Social justice and Ethics

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Social justice and Ethics

Introduction

Social justice refers to proper and fair administration of laws that conform to the natural law which all persons irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, race, possessions, religion, etc. are to be treated with equality and without prejudice. CITATION Han11 l 1033 (Micklitz) In a seminar for all first year students at the University of Pacific, a question is posed which requires the students to have comprehensive understanding of what a good society entails. The question gives a clear direction of focus for the University of Pacific general education. An ethical seminar which is so culminating in nature is integrated. An article titled The Ethics of Engagement is seen to analyze some of the fundamental areas that students ought to consider while in campus. This essay will look at various aspects of social justice in a society, elements like democracy, ethics, among other issues and analyze how they are cultivated in the hearts of students in their first year of campus.

Discussion

According to a paper issued to students at Old Westbury campus, we get to note that first year readers are given considerable concerns to ensure they kick off as reliable citizens. The paper stresses on themes like the meaning of liberal education, self discovery, and individual relationship to the society, nature of social and personal responsibility as well as the nature of values. By locating the main emotional and intellectual challenges first year readers experience, the paper serves to encourage them to evaluate their assumptions and ideas and the weigh the impact of the decisions they make to their own lives, the surrounding community and the world at large. CITATION Jan05 l 1033 (Butts) The course stretches from a discussion of the need for ethics in ones life, to ethics in individual relationships, to ethical values in Old Westbury society and culminates in the zeal for sustainability and social justice in America as well as the global context. In that process, leaners are encouraged to have consideration of multiple perspectives and have a reflection of their own identities, aspirations and values within the greater common good.

The argument is that, students ought to have deep understanding and ability to apply ethics in their decision making in community and personal life so as the entire society to progress. It is also meant to challenge students to understand appreciate diversity in culture, ethnicity or race, gender, class, sexual orientation, abilities and age. For instance, ability to acknowledge and reflect on someone’s own socio economic and cultural background, values and assumptions; ability to acknowledge the commonalities and the differences among existing multiple perspectives which are expressed in lecture room interactions in various college environments.

In the seminars that are conducted in the University of Pacific, all first years are introduced to a question that requires them to describe a good society on the basis of a common intellectual experience, as well as theories of moral development. The students are engaged in an exploration system that ranges between local and universal levels. In the argument developed in this paper, the chapters dwell on themes like the family, state, citizenship, interpersonal relationships, self reflection, and the environment. The principal objective of this course is to come up with a broad sense of critical thinking about the necessity of political and social issues, at both national and international level, and to advocate for political and social engagement.

The course has set as one of its key goals as to encourage the first years to cultivate and nurture the perspective taking and empathy for various differences that arise like class, race, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, species and nationality. The students are led through this perspective taking to analyze whether the American society lives up to the ideals of equality and liberty promulgated in the founding documents. The learners have an opportunity to be taught about wide range of topics including political and cultural forces through which personal identity is said to be shaped; the results of internalizing perceptions, racial stereotypes of the disabled ones ; the role of government in the economy; nationalism and cosmopolitanism; how nonhuman beings are treated; as well as environmental racism.

Students are highly encouraged to play a center role in their communities, like volunteering in national polls among other tasks in the community that will boost their involvement. Students also culminate in development of capabilities for ethical reasoning and self- understanding where they learn about various ethical theories and moral development while examining different approaches with respect to family, work, friends, and citizenship. At the end, the students are required to write a summary of the source of their moral attributes.

The term social justice is coined from a combination of two words, justice and social. Something is said to be just if it demonstrates fairness in all manner of its existence. Social justice is therefore taken to mean a behavior whereby someone is fair to the surrounding people and nonhumans like environment. From a political point of view, one has to legislate so as to develop a just society and numerous programs have to be put into place so as to collect financial resources and distribute them evenly between poor, rich, middle class and the marginalized people in the society. As such, laws that are anti- discrimination and program that boost equal opportunity have to be put into place so as to help administration of justice in the society.

On a different angle, a just society is the one whereby everyone has access to basic needs again which must be offered to every on. These include food, education, medical care, safe shelter etc. this is facilitated through taxation. This term is related to ethics in the sense that, for social justice to manifest we gather resources through various options through taxation and use it without misappropriations. CITATION MGM02 l 1033 (Chitkara) Again, the enactment of laws meant to ensure justice in the society is meant for the common good of all. Therefore, all these words are interrelated.

According to the first year readings, social change can be achieved if the values that mold people to be socially responsible are engraved into the minds of learners. We need to teach the young students and create awareness about the necessity of a society where people recognize and respect the diversity of each other.

Conclusion

Social justice is achievable if we come up with laws that foster equality and transparency. Ethics is about conducting our selves with fairness, responsibility and having in mind that we are diverse and hence need to acknowledge everyone’s culture, religious diversity, disability, class, gender etc. these attributes will grow in a society and perhaps revolution come if students are introduced into them during the start of their program in colleges and universities.

Works Cited

BIBLIOGRAPHY Butts, Janie B. Nursing ethics : across the curriculum and into practice. Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett, 2005.

Chitkara, M G (Madan Gopal). Dr. Ambedkar and social justice. New Delhi : A P H Pub. Corp, 2002.

Micklitz, Hans W. The Many Concepts of Social Justice in European Private Law. Cheltenham : Edward Elgar Pub, 2011.