The term Social Justice is not a new term, it’s actually been around for a long time and is defined in many different ways by many different people. First it is worth considering it’s generally accepted meaning which is well written on Wikipedia…
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of “social justice” was coined by the Jesuit Luigi Taparelli in 1840 based on the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas and given further exposure in 1848 by Antonio Rosmini-Serbati. The idea was elaborated by the moral theologian John A. Ryan, who initiated the concept of a living wage. Father Coughlin also used the term in his publications in the 1930s and the 1940s. It is a part of Catholic social teaching, Social Gospel from Episcopalians and is one of the Four Pillars of the Green Party upheld by green parties worldwide. Social justice as a secular concept, distinct from religious teachings, emerged mainly in the late twentieth century, influenced primarily by philosopher John Rawls. Some tenets of social justice have been adopted by those on the left of the political spectrum.
Social justice is based on the concepts of human rights and equality and involves a greater degree of economic egalitarianism through progressive taxation, income redistribution, or even property redistribution. These policies aim to achieve what developmental economists refer to as more equality of opportunity than may currently exist in some societies, and to manufacture equality of outcome in cases where incidental inequalities appear in a procedurally just system. The Constitution of the International Labour Organization affirm that “universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice.” And the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action treats social justice as a purpose of the human rights education.
Our definition of Social Justice is essentially based on the definition above but we have taken the believes defined in that definition and more specifically defined a new definition which is tangible and can be acted upon. As eluded to on other parts of this site our definition of Social Justice is:
“Social Justice is the use of the Internet through unique websites to report or file claims against business’s or people who act in an unethical, illegal, or unprofessional manner. Social Justice uses the power of the Internet to provide the general public with a way to determine these types of business’s and/or persons that act in a way consumers or the public should be aware of.”
Our definition of Social Justice really evolved by combining the common believes of what it means with the concept of Social Media. Social Media also has some broad definitions like Social Justice but has is more commonly associated with websites like Facebook and Twitter, which like our definition of Social Justice are tangible and real. One could argue that Facebook and Twitter are conceptually the same as how you would define the Internet as a whole but in reality have become part or subsection of the Internet. These website allow people to interact with each other in a specific place, in their case websites. Most would agree that Facebook is a form of Social Media, not Facebook IS social media. Similarly Social Justice is not one particular website but rather a group or type of websites that abide by a certain set of rules or at least work towards a similar goal.
Our vision for Social Justice under our definition is a new group of sites like Facebook and Twitter will start to become mainstream avenues for consumers to both interact and learn about specific people or companies that act illegally, unprofessionally, immorally, or are harmful to others in any way. Whereas Social Media websites are used both commercially and socially to offer content to the public about issues pertaining to the lives of other people, Social Justice websites will offer content on their websites or on websites they build that serves communities as a whole to warn the public of business’s or people that could cause harm based on prior actions.
We believe that while the Internet is an amazing social medium that allows people to contribute to society by publishing valuable content on virtually any subject for other to learn, enjoy, and market consumer products, it’s own greatness in that sense has also allowed for a darker negative use by people to profit off the openness that the Internet provides. People and companies have learned ways to use the Internet to trick, deceive, and manipulate others for their own personal gain. Our hope is that through this new Social Justice medium consumers and the general public can fight back against these types of people both on the Internet and offline by making content available to the public about experiences they have had with these types of people or companies.
This type of Social Justice is not new, it is already used by many websites that serve to warn the public of various types of injustice done to other people. There are many level of how this is already being used, everything from sites dedicated to allowing users to post gripes about people, companies, products, or services to less focused sites that may simply offer the ability to review products or services they offer or other sites offer. The purpose of Social Justice for our use is to classify or group certain types of these sites whose main purpose is to improve the lives of others with websites dedicated to promoting the stories of various types of injustice done to people.
The end result of an online Social Justice revolution will be an improvement of the way people and companies treat others because they will be deterred from acting in ways that don’t conform to the morals generally accepted in society and governed by Social Justice websites.