What is Fair and What is Just? | Julian Burnside | TEDxSydney

Summary

In this powerful speech, the speaker delves into the concept of fairness and justice, highlighting our innate sense of justice from a young age and our paradoxical tolerance for injustice when it doesn't directly affect us. Historical examples illustrate society's past acceptance of unfairness, such as women's suffrage and slavery. The speaker challenges the audience's perception of justice through thought experiments and discusses the complexities of a just society, as proposed by philosophers like John Rawls and Avishai Margalit. Personal anecdotes, including the tragic story of a refugee child, underscore the urgency of addressing injustices, particularly in the treatment of refugees. The speech concludes with a call to action, encouraging everyone to stand up for justice and to never give up the fight against injustice.

Takeaways

• 😀 Fairness is a fundamental human instinct that children grasp early in life, often recognizing unfairness before fairness.
• 🤔 People tend to be more tolerant of unfairness when it doesn't directly affect them, overlooking historical injustices like women's suffrage and property rights.
• 🚢 The historical example of the Zorg ship illustrates the appalling consequences of tolerating unfairness, where slaves were thrown overboard for economic reasons.
• 🏛️ Justice, closely related to fairness, is valued but can be elusive and ambiguous, as demonstrated by the thought experiment involving a mother and her children.
• 👨‍💼 John Rawls' theory of a just society emphasizes equal distribution of opportunities and goods, with compensation for starting disadvantages.
• 📚 Avishai Margalit questions whether a just society can tolerate humiliating institutions, arguing that dignity is essential for a meaningful existence.
• 🌎 The distribution of resources, even if just, can be humiliating if the process degrades individuals, as illustrated by the example of rice distribution in a starving community.
• 🔒 The treatment of refugees and aborigines serves as a stark example of how modern societies can still tolerate humiliating institutions.
• 📢 The speaker's personal journey into advocating for refugees was sparked by a tragic incident of a young girl's suicide in a detention center, highlighting the urgent need for justice.
• 💪 The speaker encourages everyone to be passionate about justice, to stand up against injustice, and to ensure that their actions align with these values.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speech?

The main theme of the speech is the concept of fairness and justice, and how society's tolerance for unfairness can lead to unjust systems and institutions.

Why does the speaker mention historical examples of unfairness?

The speaker mentions historical examples of unfairness to illustrate how society has evolved in its understanding of justice and to highlight the capacity of people to tolerate injustice when it does not directly affect them.

What is the significance of the ship Zorg story in the speech?

The story of the ship Zorg is used to emphasize the appalling consequences of tolerating unfairness and to show how historical injustices were once considered acceptable, leading to horrific acts.

How does the speaker define justice in the context of the thought experiment with the vase?

In the context of the thought experiment, justice is explored through two scenarios that challenge the audience to consider whether the process or the outcome is more important in achieving justice.

What does the speaker suggest about the justice system's tolerance for pockets of unfairness?

The speaker suggests that the justice system is designed to produce right results more often than not, and society tolerates cases of unfairness because the system is generally seen as worth it, as long as one is not personally affected.

Who are John Rawls and Avishai Margalit, and what do they contribute to the discussion?

John Rawls is an American philosopher known for his theory of a just society, which emphasizes equal distribution of opportunities. Avishai Margalit is an Israeli philosopher who questions whether a just society can tolerate humiliating institutions, arguing for the importance of dignity in addition to justice.

What is the example given by Avishai Margalit to illustrate the difference between a just distribution and a humiliating one?

Avishai Margalit uses the example of distributing rice in a starving community, where the same just distribution can be achieved either by handing a bag to each person respectfully or by dumping the bags and having armed guards ensure no one takes more than one, with the latter being humiliating.

Why does the speaker feel passionately about refugee issues?

The speaker feels passionately about refugee issues after discovering the indefinite detention of innocent refugees under deplorable conditions, which they view as a humiliating institution that leads to despair and self-harm.

What was the turning point for the speaker in becoming a public critic of the mistreatment of refugees?

The turning point for the speaker was a phone call informing them about the suicide attempt of a young girl in a detention center, which led them to become a public critic of the mistreatment of refugees.

How does the speaker express their determination to continue advocating for justice despite challenges?

The speaker expresses their determination by stating that they will continue to stand up for justice and never give up, drawing comfort from the fact that they can say 'at least, I tried' with their last breath.