Law vs. justice: What is our duty in society? | James Stoner | Big Think

Law is like the rules of a game; justice is how fair that game feels to everyone playing it.

Imagine you and your friends are playing tag at the park. The law is like saying, "You can only run on the grass." But if one friend keeps running on the sidewalk every time, even though they're supposed to stay on the grass, that's not fair, that’s where justice comes in.

What Is Our Duty?

Your job in society is like being a good friend in the game. You follow the rules (law) but also make sure everyone gets a turn and isn’t treated unfairly (justice). Sometimes people break the rules to get ahead, just like someone might cheat at tag by peeking around corners. That’s when we need to step up and say, “Hey, that’s not fair!”

So, your duty is to be both a rule-follower and a fairness-checker, helping keep the game (or society) fun for everyone!

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Examples

  1. A city passes a new rule that requires everyone to wear hats in public.
  2. A judge decides not to follow the law because it would be unfair for one person.
  3. Students are asked to choose between following school rules and helping a friend who is being bullied.

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Categories: Science · law· justice· society