Introduction
Justice is a fundamental concept that has been explored across various disciplines. It is how individuals or groups are recognized and given due compensation or retribution for their actions. This idea has been explored through two different lenses: history and the humanities. Examining justice through the historical and humanities lenses provides a nuanced understanding of the evolution and values that have shaped the concept of justice.
Further exploration through legal and economic lenses can offer a more comprehensive view of justice and its implications on society. Justice is a fundamental concept that has been examined through various lenses. This essay will examine justice through two lenses: history and humanities.
Historical and Humanities Views on Justice
When viewed through the historical lens, justice is regarded as an individual or community experience molded by the past. Historical analysis focuses on understanding the events and circumstances that led to specific outcomes and how they can inform our current understanding of justice (Ranganathan & Bratman, 2021). The types of evidence used when examining this lens include written or oral accounts from individuals who experienced the events in question, as well as physical artifacts such as legal documents and other sources from the period.
The key characteristic of the history lens is that it focuses on understanding the past. In contrast, the humanities lens focuses on understanding how justice has been interpreted and understood throughout history. Both lenses use evidence to analyze the past, but the humanities lens also looks at the cultural context of the issue (Ranganathan & Bratman, 2021).
Both lenses also examine how justice has been utilized to shape laws and customs. However, the humanities lens also considers how it has been understood differently by various groups and societies. Overall, both lenses enable us to gain a deeper understanding of the concept of justice and its evolution over time. By comparing and contrasting the different lenses, we can gain a more nuanced view of justice and its implications on today’s society.
KWL Approach
Know (K)
The justice system in the United States is based on the principles of checks and balances, which means the three branches of government each have a role in creating, implementing, and enforcing laws. This system ensures that no one branch of government has too much power (Neubauer & Fradella, 2018). The justice system is also complex and multifaceted, consisting of various stakeholders, including law enforcement, legal professionals, judges, and juries.
Want to Know (W)
What changes have been made to the justice system to make it more equitable for marginalized populations? How does the justice system ensure that laws are applied fairly and equitably? What policies and procedures are in place to ensure people have access to justice? How have advances in technology impacted the justice system? What role does the media play in influencing public perception of the justice system? What are the different approaches to restorative justice?
Learned (L)
From the library guide, I learned that the justice system in the United States is heavily influenced by legal precedent, which means that decisions made in past court cases can be used to support or challenge current laws. This system helps to ensure that laws are applied consistently and fairly (Neubauer & Fradella, 2018). Additionally, the justice system has undergone significant evolution over the past several decades, with a focus on creating a more equitable and inclusive system.
For example, there have been changes to the criminal justice system aimed at reducing incarceration rates, providing access to legal aid, and improving access to restorative justice processes. Additionally, technological advances have enabled more effective data collection and analysis of the justice system, which can help identify areas of inequity and bias. Ultimately, I realized that the media plays a crucial role in shaping public perception of the justice system, and can serve as both a tool for positive change and a source of misinformation.
When examining justice through a historical lens, the focus is on the evolution of the concept of justice, the development of laws, and the values used to define it. Historical research into justice reveals how different societies have interpreted and responded to the concept of justice. For example, the Code of Hammurabi, which dates back to 1772 BCE, was a set of laws based on retribution and the notion that an “eye for an eye” was a just punishment (Krey, 2019). In contrast, modern criminal justice systems prioritize rehabilitation and redemption. This demonstrates how justice has evolved and how different societies have interpreted the concept of justice.
When examining justice via a humanities lens, the emphasis is on the intellectual, moral, and ethical dimensions of justice. Humanities research examines the different theories of justice, such as utilitarianism, which suggests that the greatest good for the greatest number should be the basis for justice. It also examines how justice is intertwined with notions of fairness and equity, and how different societies have developed their values and standards of justice (Banks, 2018). For example, restorative justice seeks to repair the harm caused by a crime and restore balance between the offender and the community.
Conclusion
There are similarities and differences between approaching justice from historical and humanistic perspectives. Both lenses focus on the evolution of justice and the values that have been used to define it (Askanius & Hartley, 2019). However, the historical lens focuses on the evolution of the concept of justice over time, while the humanistic lens examines the philosophical, moral, and ethical aspects of justice.
For further exploration of justice, one might consider looking at it through a legal lens, which focuses on laws and legal systems. This would provide a more comprehensive view of justice and how laws define, interpret, and enforce it. Alternatively, one could look at justice through an economic lens, which focuses on its economic implications, such as the cost of incarceration or the economic effects of criminal penalties.
References
Askanius, T., & Hartley, J. M. (2019). Framing Gender Justice. Nordicom Review, 40(2), 19–36. Web.
Banks, C. (2018). Criminal Justice Ethics: Theory and Practice. SAGE Publications.
Krey, V. (2019). About the Death Penalty. Reflections on Legal History: From the Code of Hammurabi and Sumerian Precursors up to Germanic Law, the Roman Empire, and the Middle Ages. Kohlhammer Verlag.
Ranganathan, M., & Bratman, E. (2021). From Urban Resilience to Abolitionist Climate Justice in Washington, DC. Antipode, 53(1), 115–137. Web.
Neubauer, D. W., & Fradella, H. F. (2018). America’s Courts and the Criminal Justice System. Cengage Learning.