Justice or Righteousness is about fairness. Defined in the dictionary as fairness, fair play, fair-mindedness etc. justice is not highlighted as a Mussar soul trait but is noted in Rosicrucian ontology. Philosophers across all eras have pondered justice. Justice is a topic that requires considerable thought. Both Socrates and Plato, for example, spent a considerable amount of time writing about justice and what is just. Socrates concludes that people reach excellence only by being just. Justice is about balance and bringing balance into life. Justice is the continual balancing of energy and requires the use of our rational capacity to get as many facts as possible and to relate those facts carefully before making a decision. Judgement judges actions, the intent behind actions and the end result of an action, not people.
Judgement has two dimensions: the balance between the individual’s freedom and the rights and privileges of humanity; and the balance between the spiritual aspirations and the passions of the body. Man is free to act but justice reacts to that freedom with visible and invisible effects.
Justice can be summarised by the maxim: “Do unto others as you would do unto yourself” or “Treat others the same way you would like to be treated”. This maxim only works when one has a proper degree of self-perception and self-worth. If we fail to value ourselves, our perception of justice will also be skewed. We judge to the degree that we think and we must be conscious of our knowledge and ignorance when we claim to apply justice in our lives.
Justice, however, means to detach oneself from one’s own sense of importance and to look impartially at what is right without being led by personal passions. Justice applies what is right even if it leads to an unfavourable situation for oneself. Justice does not demand self-denial but requires that we suspend our interest and look at the world from a broad perspective of human dignity. Justice inspires us to stand up for the weak and the poor. Justice brings harmony and cooperation between different people and allows each their right to liberty while remaining a cohesive force for group unity.
In its practical application, the virtue of justice means doing the work for which you are paid by your employer. Justice demands continuous evaluation in the moment as to whether an action taken is edifying or destructive from an objective perspective. Justice does not mean balancing positive and negative forces, it is rather a deliberate action to ensure that an action will lead to the best outcome overall. Justice includes the concept of mercy because justice must also consider the impact it has on a perpetrator. Justice is not a harsh application of rules but a considered balancing of all aspects involved, including the right and dignity of the perpetrator.
People should not act justly from a fear of prosecution but from an understanding based on the fact that justice serves a greater good. When just action is driven by fear, or injustice then an unjust action becomes an option in circumstances where the one id unlikely to be caught. True justice maintains an inner consistency that is independent from circumstances. Justice listens simultaneously to the voice of prosecution as well as the voice of defence. When we judge an action as bad, then justice also demands that we look at potentially mitigating circumstances and look at the defence of the accusing party with an open mind. A wrong judgement is easily made if justice is rash and not properly consulted. Justice therefore will ask whether all factors have been duly consulted before judgement. Fair judgement ensures the liberty of the individual within the context of order and harmony in society at large.
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Rosicrucian philosophy - Hope for humanity 