Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A justice-based system is a moral perspective that emphasizes fairness and equality. It's often associated with the belief that rules should be universally applied, regardless of individual circumstances.
This is an approach to ethics that focuses on the morality of actions themselves, rather than their outcomes. In other words, it's about following rules because they're inherently right, not because they lead to good results.
Social Contract Theory: This theory suggests that people live together in society in accordance with an agreement that establishes moral and political rules of behavior. It's another way of thinking about fairness and equality.
Utilitarianism: This is a theory in normative ethics which states that the best action is the one that maximizes overall "happiness". While it also concerns itself with fairness, it differs from a justice-based system by focusing more on outcomes than on universal principles.