Social Justice

To give each person his/her due means to give every individual what is rightly owed to them. In the chapter, this idea is linked to justice: a just society must give due and equal consideration to all individuals. Today, this is understood not just as giving people what they deserve in a general sense, but as recognizing them as human beings with dignity. So each person should get the opportunity to develop talents and pursue chosen goals.

The meaning has changed over time:
- In Plato's time, it was mainly about each person getting what was appropriate in the social order, and the ruler ensuring the well-being of the people.
- In modern times, it is closely tied to the idea that all persons have equal dignity, so justice requires equal consideration, equal rights, and fair opportunities for all.

The chapter outlines three principles of justice:

1. Equal treatment for equals
- People who are equal in relevant respects should be treated equally.
- This means equal rights, equal opportunities, and no discrimination on the basis of caste, class, race, or gender.
- Example: If two people do the same work, they should get the same pay. A male teacher and a female teacher should not get different salaries for the same job.

2. Proportionate justice
- Rewards and burdens should be given in proportion to effort, skills, and the nature of the work.
- Equal treatment is not always fair if people have done different kinds of work or put in different levels of effort.
- Example: In an exam, all students should not get the same marks just because they belong to the same school. Marks should depend on the quality of the answer papers and the effort put in. Dangerous or highly skilled work may deserve higher pay.

3. Recognition of special needs
- Society should take into account the special needs of some people when distributing rewards, duties, or help.
- This is part of social justice because some people need extra support to enjoy equal opportunities.
- Example: A visually impaired student may be given extra time in an exam. Reservations for Scheduled Castes and Tribes are also examples of special help to those who have faced social disadvantage.

These principles may sometimes seem to clash, so governments must try to balance them fairly.

No, it does not necessarily conflict with equal treatment for all.

The chapter says that considering special needs is an extension of equal treatment, not its denial. The idea is that people are not equal in every relevant respect. If someone has a disability, lack of access to education, or some other disadvantage, treating that person exactly like everyone else may actually be unfair.

So:
- Equal treatment means treating equals equally.
- Special help means treating people differently when they are unequal in important respects, so that justice is achieved.

Example: A visually impaired student getting extra time in an exam does not violate justice; it helps ensure fair opportunity. Likewise, reservations for disadvantaged groups are meant to correct unequal conditions, not to reject equality.