Justice

What does the word justice mean to you?

For me personally, justice means that every action done to another person is fair and right. Not one person should be treated unfairly and as if they are inferior to others. This can be applied to almost any situation in society. But for one example, torture is extremely unjust and by torturing someone, you are treating them like they aren't human. In addition, justice to me means that everyone gets a fair chance at something. That not one person is ahead based on silly circumstances. But of course, this is the way our society works and I don't know if everything can be just in our world.

Scenario 1: Price Gouging

I believe that the government should intervene if the prices of essential items increases to a point where it becomes ridiculous because in an emergency situation there are different procedures than in a normal situation. But for things that aren't essential, putting a price ceiling to effect the prices would create too much inefficiency and would in turn hurt the economy more than helping it. They should intervene to an extent.

Scenario 2: Bank Bailouts

I think that the government should intervene to a certain extent. For those certain companies that are essential to the economy, they should save. Not only do these companies employ millions of workers, but in the long run, the consumer would be worse off without these certain companies. In addition, assuming that these companies make up an oligopoly, the start up costs for another firm to enter the industry and take up the space that was just created from a company going under would be so great that it would take as much if even more capital than needed to save that company. But there definitely is a line that needs to be drawn where if there is a company that is past saving, you have to let it go.

Scenario 3: Runaway Trolley- Driver

I believe that the trolley driver should switch the tracks in order to save 4 people. Although he is still killing one, by not switching, he is actively choosing to kill those extra 4 people, which is basically equal to him actively switching the track and killing that one single person. Given the choice, you would want to kill one person over 5.

Scenario 4: Runaway Trolley- Observer

I honestly can't choose for this situation. On the one hand, the fat man will probably die pretty soon anyways, and you would be saving 5 peoples' lives. But I don't think in the moment that I would be able to actively cause someone else's death. You are not responsible for the runaway trolley, but by pushing the fat man off the bridge, you would be responsible for one death, which is more than you would be responsible for without doing anything. But then the argument comes in that you had the choice and you didn't do anything, so can choice be an action? I can't decide!

Scenario 5 : Afghan Goat Herders

I would shoot the goat herders, because it is a soldier's job to serve his country and it is military protocol to stick to your mission. If in the end the mission is compromised, it would come down to this choice. In this situation, you can't take the chance. In addition, although it is just capturing one deputy, it is a step towards capturing the leader. And you could gain valuable information that could save other lives and you need to take certain steps in order to achieve the bigger mission. This is one step that can't be given to chance.