Adam Smith Justice

Question 1

justice differs from other virtues in these ways

Answer 1

1) social or political virtue
2) justice may be extracted by force
3) like rules of grammar
4) a negative virtue

Question 2

justice has several meanings

Answer 2

1) commutative justice
2) distributive justice
3) comprehensive virtue of character

Question 3

justice is necessary for:

Answer 3

social order

Question 4

who is essential for justice?

Answer 4

the impartial spectator

Question 5

why are rules of justice sacred?

Answer 5

they are about human life which is sacred in the eyes of God

Question 6

what metaphor does he give for the rules of justice?

Answer 6

the rules of grammar because they are also precise and accurate

Question 7

what is justice primarily about?

Answer 7

not harming others, negative virtue

Question 8

evolution of justice

Answer 8

1. Rude Stage
2. Shepherding Stage
3. Agricultural Stage
4. Commercial Stage

Question 9

Rude Stage

Answer 9

there is no private property and what is justice is decided by consensual agreement

Question 10

Shepherding Stage

Answer 10

some gov’t starts emerging, but there are no laws of justice

Question 11

Agricultural Stage

Answer 11

there is more property and property relations are getting more complex, gov’t legislate justice

Question 12

commercial stage

Answer 12

further complexities lead to rules of justice in becoming institutinos

Question 13

why does gov’t emerge

Answer 13

because perfect virtue is lacking. if people were perfectly virtuous they would impose justice on themselves

Question 14

commutative justice

Answer 14

about not harming others, harming a person, then rank and reputation, then property

Question 15

Distributive Justice

Answer 15

we do something positively for someone else if what we do benefits them

Question 16

Comprehensive Virtue of Character

Answer 16

we are unjust if we do not value a person in what way the impartial spectator would value a person

Question 17

Wealth of Nations, who is responsible for justice?

Answer 17

the sovereign, and it’s necessary for commerce, contracts…

Question 18

would fertile land be cultivated without justice?

Answer 18

no

Question 19

What does justice provide?

Answer 19

security

Question 20

who plays the role of moderating the agent’s resentment?

Answer 20

the impartial spectator decides how much resentment they should feel, they won’t go along with the agent if they don’t agree

Question 21

what does it mean to say justice is a negative virtue

Answer 21

means that justice is about not doing things, specifically things that injure others

Question 22

how are markets and justice related?

Answer 22

markets can’t function without justice, commerce can’t flourish without justice - without justice even fertile land isn’t cultivated - monopolies can harm others and prevent commerce from flourishing - anyone even if self interested could bring in his capacities and take part in a commercial or market system as long as he doesn’t harm others, you can compete in a self interested way, but can’t violate others