An example of commutative justice is a fair exchange between two parties, such as buying a watch for an agreed-upon price.
Commutative justice is concerned with fairness in agreements and exchanges between individuals or entities. It seeks to ensure that both parties receive equal value and that no one is unjustly enriched or harmed in the process.
Here's a breakdown of the example provided, highlighting the key elements of commutative justice:
- Agreement: Both parties (buyer and seller) voluntarily agree to the terms of the exchange.
- Equal Value: Ideally, the $200 paid by the buyer is considered equivalent in value to the watch given by the seller. This doesn't necessarily mean objective value, but rather the perceived value agreed upon by both parties.
- Fulfillment of Obligations: The buyer fulfills their obligation by paying the $200, and the seller fulfills their obligation by handing over the watch.
- No Unjust Enrichment: Neither party is unjustly enriched at the expense of the other. The transaction is mutually beneficial, assuming both valued what they received at least as much as what they gave up.
In essence, commutative justice upholds the principle of fairness and reciprocity in transactions. Other examples include:
- Paying an employee a fair wage for their labor.
- A customer paying for goods received in a store.
- Honoring the terms of a contract between two businesses.
- Returning borrowed property to its rightful owner.
Commutative justice differs from other types of justice, such as distributive justice (which concerns the fair allocation of resources within a society) and social justice (which addresses broader systemic inequalities). Commutative justice specifically focuses on ensuring fairness in individual transactions and interactions.
