Arithmetic justice, also known as absolute justice, dictates that everyone receives an equal share of a specific good or resource, provided they meet predetermined criteria.
In simpler terms, arithmetic justice focuses on equal distribution to those who qualify, regardless of individual merit or contribution beyond meeting the initial qualifying criteria. It's a system prioritizing equal access once a certain threshold is reached.
Key Characteristics of Arithmetic Justice:
- Equality: The core principle is equality in distribution after qualification.
- Criteria-Based: Distribution is conditional upon satisfying specific criteria.
- Absolute: Treats everyone who meets the criteria exactly the same.
- Focus on Shares: Concerned with providing equal shares of a particular good or benefit.
Example
Consider the example provided: In ancient Athens, all freemen (as opposed to slaves) were considered to have an equal right to participate in political discourse and decision-making. This exemplifies arithmetic justice. Being a "freeman" was the qualification. Once that qualification was met, each freeman was entitled to the same political say. The system didn't differentiate between freemen based on their wealth, wisdom, or other attributes.
Contrasting with Other Forms of Justice
It's important to distinguish arithmetic justice from other concepts like proportional justice (or geometric justice), where distribution is based on individual merit or contribution. Proportional justice suggests that those who contribute more or have greater needs should receive a larger share. Arithmetic justice does not account for these factors once the minimum qualification is met.
Arithmetic justice offers a system of equal distribution based on fulfilling a defined criterion.
