More on the Twin Guardians

More on Equity and Justice

2009 Jan 28, 10 Sultan, 165 BE

A reader kindly pointed out the following passage from a BIC document that responds to the same words of Baha’u’llah on equity and justice that I did in yesterday’s essay, “Justice and Equity, Guardian Twins.” It merits an entire posting, so here is the entire section, “Equity and Justice,” from the paper “Valuing Spirituality in Development,”

(Baha’u’llah wrote that…) "Justice and equity are twin Guardians that watch over men. From them are revealed such blessed and perspicuous words as are the cause of the well-being of the world and the protection of the nations."

Equity is fairness, the standard by which each person and group is able to maximize the development of their latent capacities. Equity differs from absolute equality in that it does not dictate that all be treated in exactly the same way. While everyone is endowed with talents and abilities, the full development of these capacities may require different approaches. It is equity that ensures that access and opportunity are fairly distributed so that this development might take place.

Equity and justice are the twin guardians of society. Equity is the standard by which policy and resource commitment decisions should be made. Justice is the vehicle through which equity is applied, its practical expression in the life of the individual and society. It is only through the exercise of true justice that trust will be established among the diverse peoples, cultures and institutions of an increasingly interdependent world.

The Baha’i Teachings state that the pillars of justice are reward and punishment. Those who act justly deserve reward, whether tangible or intangible, for such behavior. Those who act unjustly are in need of appropriate sanction both to arrest the injustice and to safeguard their own spiritual well-being.

Source: "Valuing Spirituality in Development, Initial Considerations Regarding the Creation of Spiritually Based Indicators for Development," A concept paper presented by the Baha'i International Community to the World Faiths and Development Dialogue, hosted by the President of the World Bank and the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace. London, England 8-19 February 1998, at:  http://info.bahai.org/article-1-8-1-5.html#IV