Second Principle - Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.

1. What is the difference between justice and compassion?

• There is a social structural component to Ajustice@ - it speaks to how relationships are ordered among all members of the society.
• Justice suggests fair treatment, not necessarily compassionate treatment. A system of justice often requires exercising sanctions against some people in order to protect the rights of others. The term justice is often associated with the Arule of law.@
• Is compassion primarily an individual relationship, or does it have a social component? Does compassion connote a direct experience of empathy that one has for another=s plight? Can you have a Acompassionate@ society?
• Our notions of both justice and compassion are directly linked to the Ainherent worth and dignity of all persons.@ Justice is more than a set of rules - it=s a moral expectation as to how human beings should be treated. Compassion is a deep acknowledgment of the shared humanity of others.

2. What do we mean by Aequity?@

• Equity is different from equality, to the extent that the latter term connotes treating everyone exactly the same. It involves fairness and respect for individual differences.
• Is equity more compatible with equality or inequality? How do we encourage people to fully express their capacities if we don=t reward them with certain forms of inequality? How to we prevent the inequality that emerges from limiting the capacities of others to grow and develop.
• If we advocate universal access to health care for all people, is that based on justice, equity, or compassion? Or is it enlightened self interest ( i.e., enhancing the productivity of society) ?