The Injustice of "Fairness" and the Fairness of Justice

People are rather un-metaphysical these days. This is evinced by the modern notion of fairness.

Why has an altered definition of "fairness" crept uncritically into the American cultural values system, supplanting justice? The notion is something to the effect of equal application of punishment and reward in similar circumstances. But if fairness were such a good thing, why is it that when someone is calling for it or decrying its violation such a protest is marked by whining, frowning, and pouting?

Fairness, in fact, everyone knows, is an "old fashioned" way of saying something or someone is beautiful. Whereas nowadays lads say something to the effect of, "Dang, she is hot!", they used to say, as lads know from their literature classes, "She is fair indeed!" But fairness in that sense is really something deeper. So if our notion of fairness is good, it's worth fighting for. After all, I hardly think that to transgress the truly beautiful merits pouts and whines indistinct from out-of-tune strings: "That's not fay-uhr!" No, the beautiful begs our defense with zealous passion!

But these people frown not because they know fairness. They frown because they don't know justice. They thirst for something great, but they can't stop drinking that syrupy, nuanced notion of fairness. All sugar but no substance leaves them worse off than before.

I submit: justice is better. What's more, justice is a stumbling block for the frowning. Justice seeks to render the good owed.

Let's look at an "unfair" but just hypothetical situation. Two employees, Jones and Scott, are chronically late for work, Jones because he is lazy, Scott because his father is dying and his children are into drugs. Jones is reprimanded and his hours are scaled back; Scott whose difficulties are known only to management continues to arrive late to work from time to time.

Now, in the eyes of Jones, his buddies, and all "fairness"-oriented observers, the actions of the company are "unfair." Seriously, they say among themselves, look at this outrageous situation and preferential treatment for Scott. (They say this, it must be added, knowing that Jones is lazy and that something seems to be going on with Scott.) If, however, all were fixated upon the concept of justice, none would be so vexed, for there would be quiet joy over the opportunity for Jones to right himself.

Another example is the so-called "fairness doctrine"--equal media time and coverage to all political opinions. Right, that's going to work. So when is my 20 second TV spot on MSNBC? Can I say something right after Olbermann? Oh, wait! Wouldn't that mean that Olbermann and I would have the same amount of time?

Enticing. But keep fairness, give me justice any day. Why? Let's take the concepts to their extremes.

Can the modern notion of fairness be absolutized without doing violence to reality? No way. Absolute equality in all times and by all measures? Try living in such a world. Think about it. Such a system could only become communism or anarchy. There has to be hierarchy in order.

Can the notion of justice be absolutized as an ultimate good without doing violence to reality? It already has been, a priori. What if justice were granted in all things? Ah, now that would be the world to live in! But it cannot be accomplished in this life, for the injustice done to all those who have died before us cries out for redemption.

So we start our ascent as philosophy begins waxing metaphysical. In a sense, our thirst for and tendency toward justice is a proof of God's existence, for only if there were an afterlife of some sort where past wrongs were righted could an all-good and perfectly just God dwell and therein restore what is right. And so man is left searching for an answer that only Christian theology can give, and so it does in the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. Not only are all injustices remedied in the light of perfect justice, but as injustice was distributed bodily so justice is restored bodily in the condemnation of the damned and in the resurrection of the saints.

I could go on, but I think I will just let the sacred author speak for me of the Lord our God, the holy one, the just one, when he says:

"You are all fair, my love; there is no flaw in you" (Song of Solomon, 4:7).

A most solemn and blessed feast of All Saints Day to each of you! May they intercede for us mightily that we all be counted among the redeemed in the final resurrection.