Three Principles Of Justice
Modern justice theory relies on three distinct principles. 'Equal treatment for equals' mandates non-discrimination. 'Proportionate justice' requires rewarding people according to their merit and effort. 'Recognition of special needs' acknowledges that structurally disadvantaged groups require special treatment to achieve true equity.
Primary Reference: Standard Educational Reference
Target: UPSC Prelims
Updated:
Difficulty
Medium
Skill Tested
Applied Logic
Examine the logical coherence between the following administrative actions and justice principles:
1. Evidence 1: A corporate HR policy mandates that male and female executives executing the exact same role receive identical baseline salaries. Inference 1: This policy operationalizes the principle of 'Equal treatment for equals'.
2. Evidence 2: A university admission board lowers the physical fitness test requirements for candidates suffering from a permanent disability. Inference 2: This policy operationalizes the principle of 'Proportionate justice'.
3. Evidence 3: A commission awards a substantially higher cash prize to the lead architect of a bridge compared to the junior draftsmen based on the complexity of their work. Inference 3: This action operationalizes the 'Recognition of special needs'.
Detailed Solution & Context
Consider the following Assertion and Reasons:
1. Assertion (A): A fair grading system in a competitive exam cannot adhere strictly to the principle of 'Equal treatment for equals' without causing injustice.
2. Reason (R1): The principle of 'Proportionate Justice' requires that students be assigned marks corresponding directly to the varying quality and merit of their individual efforts.
3. Reason (R2): The principle of 'Recognition of special needs' demands that all students, regardless of their performance, receive identical passing grades.
Detailed Solution & Context
Imagine you are drafting a new labor code. You want to implement three specific rules: Rule X ensures nobody is fired based on their caste. Rule Y ensures workers get paid extra for overtime hours. Rule Z mandates wheelchair ramps in all factories. Map these rules to their respective principles of justice.
1. Statement 1: Rule X is Equal Treatment; Rule Y is Proportionate Justice; Rule Z is Recognition of Special Needs.
2. Statement 2: Rule X is Proportionate Justice; Rule Y is Equal Treatment; Rule Z is Recognition of Special Needs.
3. Statement 3: Rule X is Equal Treatment; Rule Y is Recognition of Special Needs; Rule Z is Proportionate Justice.
Detailed Solution & Context
Consider the following matches between justice principles and their practical applications:1. Equal treatment for equals: A state refusing to discriminate between a Hindu and a Muslim applicant for a clerical job.
2. Proportionate justice: A government providing specialized night-transport security exclusively for female shift workers.
3. Recognition of special needs: A university reserving seats and lowering cut-off marks for candidates from historically marginalized tribes.How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Detailed Solution & Context
Thus, exactly two pairs are correctly matched.
🚨 The Examiner's Trap
Candidates often mix up 'Proportionate Justice' and 'Special Needs'. They assume proportionate justice means giving proportionally more to the weak, when it actually means giving rewards proportional to merit/effort. Special Needs covers the weak/disadvantaged.
⚡ Quick Revision
Concept Flow Mapping
Logic Quest
"If a teacher gives higher grades to a student who wrote a better essay, which principle of justice is being applied?"
Topic Clusters