King & Kolvenbach's Definitions of Justice


It is interesting to see the notion of “justice” be so highly disputed in its definition and its usage. Of course, it sounds ignorant to say that my personal definition of a vague term is fully, and without need of definition or refinement, the same as everyone else’s. It is a term that produces a different image in everyone’s mind, yet revolves around similar themes of right and wrong. That is, perhaps, the biggest underlying theme that both of these letters discuss. What is justice? And through what methods can justice be attained? Both of these writers come from Christian backgrounds and so their understandings of justice would, one would think, be certain to be the same, if not with some minor differences. And for these two writers I would argue that they largely agree with one another.
They are both writing to religious community leaders as a response to the keeping of the status quo. They both call for change, not change that comes through the “inevitability of time” which King argues against, but instead through direct action. Now King argues immediate change as 300 years had gone by without substantial, institutionalized and socialized change while Kolvenbach argues more that the old-fashioned, conservative ways of viewing things must change with time, as time is the medium that change occurs. Yet, the change towards justice they write on serves as a call to action and not as a research paper on its philosophical implications. Their forms of justice are also progressive. Church leaders before Vatican II saw “justice” as “leftists politics” as Alabaman church ministers saw were too moderate in their understanding of justice, arguing for tensionless comfort as change for the better is inevitable. Granted, King is more politically charged (page 2) than Kolvenbach, who wishes to have nothing to do with political correctness or moderateness. However, these are simple differences when regarding the overall importance of what they are discussing.
They both argue that the individual can be moral and that individuals make society and its institutions. King states that the goal of laws is to align with God’s will while Kolvenbach states that it is the Jesuit’s job to create a moral individual who will help the community and spread God’s will through action as opposed to proselytization. Both people work with similar ideas though, that the greater institutions and legislations play such a large part in the formation of the individual and society. A society that promotes immorality will create immoral people. Not only that, but that these immoral actors will not be challenged as most people lie on the plane of apathy and potential quiet, passive disagreement. Yet, if institutions promote the development of moral virtue, then the society will develop more and more outstanding, moral actors to further develop other’s moral virtue.
Justice is given definition by both authors, although King gives a more complete and concrete one. They describe justice for the purpose of action, immediate and resolute action, for the sake of the betterment of society and correction of a misaligned course. This current course is the continuation of the status quo and so they work to redefine what justice is: the creation of equality among all people through institutionalized shifts that will create social change. Through this, they both argue, true justice can be achieved.

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