Life is not fair, but should it be?

Question

If the playing field was truly level, and fairness was a realized ideal of society, how would this effect humanity, positively or negatively?

It looks like some people are not understanding this question. Fairness does not necessarily mean perfect physical or mental equality, or the absence of pain. Fairness for the sake of this question means a more level playing field, e.g., everybody having access to resources, such as education, or a ban on inherited wealth. It also indicates fairness as in justice, and the way our justice system works. I'm afraid that people are confusing "fairness" with sameness.

Answer 1

I think it should be.

Based on your definition, I think that there would be an overall benefit from being fair.

One benefit would be that there wouldn't be as much hatred toward others. If people weren't being discriminated against, then there would be less effort wasted trying to make discrimination fade out.

If everyone started with the same amount of money, there would still be a problem, because there would still be some people that would make a huge amount more money then others. But it might allow the people that are more motivated or more intelligence have a better chance at those positions. This might allow better people to be "in charge" of the system, which would effect everyone.

Answer 2

How can you apreciate pleasure with no pain? How would you know what it is if there was nothing to compare it to? Not every region on earth has earth quakes, vocanic eruptions, or floods. So would the ones in those regions know what is pleasure and peace with nothing to compare it to? or would it be as you described? Would it be dull with no acceptance of fear? Or love with no boundaries or laws? Being level would mean that you would have never known the glory of pleasure after pain. Or to better put(for a buddhist sake), a peace with nobility that can not be known without suffering. I am religous and really don't know what an ideal society is, so that is maybe why GOD sent messengers to many regions of the world for all different religions and sects. They were the ones who were supposed to tell the uninformed what is fairness. So to answer your question, one really could not know the posotive and negative effects if this was the case. It would have to happen first. Maybe it already has and we are living the posotive and the negative effects for trying to change natural order? So the balance now exists in us to perfect. But it came too far to recognise. Human Nature. What wonders and splendors of peace we can bring. And what wickedness we can bring. I have to quote myself cause of impulse. "PEACE TO THE GOD". I gave my respect. PEACE!

I just read what you added and you have the same drem as most, but it can not be as long as the ones in power are about greed and domination over the little man. Which in truth is the general public(meaning me and you). I live like that everyday. As long as I have food in my stomach and a roof over my head, I am good. The only thing I covet in this life is food, clothing, and shelter. Everything else revolves around the notion of peace. From religion to spirituality. But if what you describe in your question was to happen, it would be a very peacefull society. There are places in the world where your concept of how society should function really does exist. But the american mentality is not geared towards that. Pardon that last statemant. Not evreybody's mind is geared towards that, but most. You know, like the democrats. It would be a very noble society if there was fairness. And maybe that is the way it should be. Is that the point you were trying to make.

Answer 3

If the playing field was truly level I believe that nothing would change. The greedy would still be greedy. The rich would still want to be richer. Fairness is relative. If you ask a third world person if life was fair probably many of them would answer yes because of the culture in which they were raised. If you ask a person from an industrial country if life was fair many would anwer no because of the way they have been raised to believe that the world owes them everthing. I know many people who are physically and/or mentally challenged and many of them would inform you that life was fair but some people that view them from afar may say how unjust the world has been to them. Until we are able to walk a mile in another's shoes we cannot judge how life has treated them.

Answer 4

most people are trying to balance their life and that is their purpose. if their lives has been fixed, there's no use working for it? (much like would screw it at that point when there's nothing greater to be achieved from it). life need not be fair. people should do proper actions to get what they deserve. sometimes it's a mater of equity rather than anything else. if not, we see more free riders getting the same but not giving the same. so why should life be fair for them?

Answer 5

'fairness' is simply your qualitative assesment of your own insecurities.

Rich people don't think theft is fair. Ugly people don't think bars are fair. The well educated don't think welfare is fair, the poor don't think salary disparities are fair, etc.

Answer 6

Can there really be a positive and a negative if all is fair?

:-)

Answer 7

If the field were level, we would take care of our own.

Answer 8

nice thought sorry wouldn't work it would cause absolute chaos there has to be a balance you can't have fairness without unfairness just as you can't have love without hate.

Answer 9

If life was fair, we wouldn't have any lessons to learn, and we wouldn't know how to make ourselves better people.

Answer 10

Then we would not evolve.
We would lose the flexibility and versatility to adapt to changing situations ultimately, becoming extinct.