A just society can be explained in terms of political orientation, social and political underpinnings, as well as religious approaches. The concept denoting economic justice is very hard to attain. The main characteristic of a just society relate to letting people exercise their rights and freedoms in a fair manner. In a bid to realize a just society self-determination and wellbeing are important aspects in achieving increased economic productivity and respecting the people’s liberties.
The phrase connotes a society where people possess equal opportunities for the accomplishment of economic security as well as fair community financial advancement. In such a society every member of the community can borrow, accumulate and achieve prosperity on an equal footing. The foregoing aspects presuppose a situation where the community is able to reason as a whole with regards to the meaning and realization of quality living.
The achievement of a just society is not realizable. The aspects relating to just societies usually remain as aspirations since they cannot as a matter of fact be exercised within a society. This is precisely because the notions of justice are usually considered alongside opposing aspects of shared good and intrinsic worth of a community. There is no single societal aspect that can truly be said to meet the homogeneity standard advanced by the proponents of a just society.
The concept of utilitarianism advanced by John Stuart Mill had its basis on the concept of liberty. His idea of liberty was meant to rationalize the independence of individual in disagreement to unconstrained control by administrative mechanisms. The utilitarian approach by Mill is denoted by the principle of ‘greatest happiness’. As such, he argued that acts of a person are usually aimed at realizing the greatest happiness. In his explanation, Mill sought to advance an approach intended to qualitatively determine pleasures. In the approach, Mill was of the view that there existed several forms of pleasures. Some of the pleasures according to Mill include physical, moral, intellectual pleasures. With regard to economic perspectives, Mills approach contemplates the existence of free markets. Mill’s approach was to the effect that people should only engage in acts which result in the greatest pleasure for the greatest number of people.
Some of the disadvantages associated with the utilitarian approach to societies include the lack of a practical way of getting information in order to make the necessary choices. Consequently, some situations within a society may not allow sufficient time to contemplate as to whether carrying out particular activities would provide the greatest happiness to every member of society. In most instances people within a society are strained to act on impulse. Accordingly, the moral utilitarian approach requires information in order to evaluate societal welfare issues and consequentiality aspects before making a decision. There is however less or no information in line with the preceding.
Consequently, the advantages associated with utilitarianism include the fact that in a utilitarian setting, a person must consider the consequences of an action before proceeding. Although it may be impossible to achieve a harmonious society for the full implementation of utilitarianism, its concepts can still be implemented in maximization of favorable end result at personal level. Mill’s approach encourages the wide-ranging societal contentment as opposed to the selfish nature of men. The latter may not achieve much in a contemporary society.
