can justice exist without humans? so let's say that every single human in the world is dead. does justice exist? and if so, how? i don't want any basic answers. looking for some philosophical/or intelligent approach.
2007-12-24 15:56:40 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Will somebody please propose an explanation for the other side of the question? That is, "justice can exist without humans" so far, it's been just one-sided (justice can't exist w/o humans), and i'd like to hear the other side too. thanx./
2007-12-25 04:08:16 · update #1
I don't think so. I think this comes down to narcissism. Wether or not you can separate what goes on in your mind from the outside world. If something has meaning to me, that meaning must exist everywhere. The concept of justice certainly has meaning to me. I see a wrong(which is a perception of mine also) and I feel something must be done about it. This is my feeling, not the worlds or the universe's feeling, it's mine.
It's kind of like the concept of beauty. Do you think an object or person is intrisically beautiful or do you SEE beauty? Is the beauty an intrinsic property of the object or is it a feeling you have? I think the latter. I say something is beautiful because when I look at the object I get feelings I like. But the feelings are in me, not in the object. This is why two people can look at the same piece of artwork and one will say it's beautiful and another will say it's ugly. Same piece of art, two different reactions. But the narcissist will argure there is only one right answer, that the object IS beautiful or ugly, not I THINK it's beautiful or ugly.
Bottom line is the meaning is in us, in how we feel. Not outside.
2007-12-24 17:45:53 · answer #1 · answered by LG 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Justice assumes that a moral standard exists, therefore justice cannot exist apart from moral agents. The answer to your question is largely determined by weather or not you believe that there are moral agents apart form humanity. What other living beings apart from humanity are capable of making moral decisions? Certainly not animals. From a Christian stand point, we are informed that God (the creator..not a creature) is capable of making ethical decisions. As you consider choosing an answer to this question, you must also consider your stance on the existence of God. If there is no God then apart from humanity Justice cannot exist as no other moral agents exist within the known universe. However If God does not exist and humanity is the sole distributer of justice, it must be asked..what is just. Who determines what is moral? For example, Is morality decided on a individual basis. If so then morality is subjective and incoherent. Murder cannot be both morally good and evil at the same time..yet an individually determined ethical system allows for just that. If however God does exist then Justice certainly exist apart from humanity as God is a moral agent capable of making moral decisions. (and in my opinion also the standard by which justice is determined)Much...MUCH more could be said...but I hope this helps to get your whells turning. Take Care!
2007-12-25 00:54:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This question is anthropocentric because it assumes that only humans are moral creatures. Given that we are unaware (and cannot prove conclusively either way) of whether sentient, moral, alien creatures exist (this would have to include deities as well--God, Krishna, etc.), one would need to know such information before giving a conclusive answer. In simple, if such creatures exist, then justice is created. If such creatures do not exist, then justice disappears with the removal of the only moral agents in the universe.
2007-12-25 01:09:53 · answer #3 · answered by Think 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it cannot. Justice is created by humans to punish or exonerate people according to the law. Without humans, there is no law therefore no justice. Things would be back to their natural order. Survival of the fitest and natural law.
2007-12-25 00:45:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there are no humans, everything will be justice, because it is the human mind that creates the notion of injustice.... otherwise whatever happens is duly and properly caused and hence is nothing but just.
2007-12-25 00:02:38 · answer #5 · answered by small 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No.
Furthermore, there'd be no justice with only one human. You'd need at least two. A perp and a victim.
2007-12-25 00:04:27 · answer #6 · answered by Todd 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋