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Humanities 12

Justice Project

'20 trees for a carbon-neutral 2020'

The justice project is the culmination of the humanities content this semester. We analyzed the question what is justice? and it turns out that each of us retrieved a different answer. I learned that what each person views as just is different, and depends on one's personal values. For example (and this is a big sticking point in criminal justice) should the wrongdoer be punished for what they did, and in what measure? Some would argue that the quid pro quo is in itself justice while others, myself included, would suggest that retribution is only part of justice and that its ultimate purpose is healing. 

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This view of justice lends itself to the massive scope of justice. Previous to this class I failed to consider all the contexts in which we can analyze justice. It is obvious to study justice in the courts, but questions of justice are in every human action and system. John Rawl's veil of ignorance hypothetical asks us about social justice- what would the fairest society look like? But even Rawl's theory of justice is fallible, he makes exceptions which some would say are unjust such as the difference principle which allows inequalities so long as they benefit the worst-off. Here again, justice is personal and subjective, and yet we must find a way to agree upon its practical application in the world.

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Justice can be applied to the world itself, in my opinion. It is my personal belief that everything deserves a basic degree of respect- and dare I say... love. This is where my justice project comes in; if the world itself is a being which deserves respect and I am causing harm then I must heal this wrong, as is just. The premise of my project is to be carbon neutral for the year 2020. I can theoretically accomplish this by planting 20 trees. A tree will capture and recycle one ton of carbon in 40 years and I, the average American, emit 20 tons per year. So assuming each tree lives to maturity I can have a carbon-neutral 2020 by the year 2060.

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