Book V: Justice and fairness: a moral virtue needing special discussion Nicomachean Ethics

in trying describe justice mean, other ethical virtues, aristotle says justice involves @ least 4 terms, namely, 2 persons whom , 2 shares just. (1131a) must fall between , little , requires distribution made between people of equal stature.

but in many cases, how judge mean not clear, because aristotle points out, if persons not equal, not have equal shares; when equals possess or allotted unequal shares, or persons not equal equal shares, quarrels , complaints arise. (1131a23-24). in distribution must take account sort of worth. parties involved different concerning deserve, , importance of key difference between distributive justice , rectificatory justice because distribution can take place among equals. aristotle not state how decide deserves more, implying depends on principles accepted in each type of community, rather states sort of proportion in intermediate between 4 elements (2 goods , 2 people). final point aristotle makes in discussion of distributive justice when 2 evils must distributed, lesser of evils more choice worthy , such greater (1131b21-25).

the second part of particular justice rectificatory , consists of voluntary , involuntary. sort of justice deals transactions between people not equals , looks @ harm or suffering caused individual. sort of blind justice since treats both parties if equal regardless of actual worth: makes no difference whether man has defrauded bad man or bad 1 1 . once again trying describe justice mean, says men require judge middle term or medium—indeed in places judges called mediators—, think if mean just. sort of mean, inasmuch judge medium between litigants . restore both parties equality, judge must take amount greater equal offender possesses , give part victim both have no more , no less equal. rule should applied rectify both voluntary , involuntary transactions.

finally, aristotle turns idea reciprocity ( eye eye ) justice, idea associates pythagoreans. problem approach justice, although normal in politics , law-making, ignores difference between different reasons doing crime. example, have been done out of passion or ignorance, , makes critical difference when comes determining reaction. in turn returns aristotle mention fact laws not same just: political justice of 2 kinds, 1 natural, other conventional. in famous statement, aristotle makes point that, many points in book 5, thought refer consideration of plato s republic. people think rules of justice merely conventional, because whereas law of nature immutable , has same validity everywhere, fire burns both here , in persia, rules of justice seen vary. aristotle insists justice both fixed in nature in sense, variable in specific way: rules of justice ordained not nature man not same in places, since forms of government not same, though in places there 1 form of government natural, namely, best form. believed people can see types of rules conventional, , nature—and felt important when trying judge whether or unjust determining whether did voluntarily or not. people commit crimes accident or due vices other greed or injustice.