What would you say is the greatest obstacle to a just society? Could it be scarce resources, human nature, or

something else? Describe this obstacle in terms of at least two of the authors in Chapter 10. You must use quoted

material from the authors.

How We See It

The greatest obstacle to gain the achievement of a

“just” society is human perception. Each and every single

human being on earth has their own sense of justice. How

is justice perceived in the eyes of a police officer? How is

justice perceived through the eyes of a convicted criminal?

I agree with the ideals of Thomas Hobbes and John Stuart

Mill. Justice in my eyes helps promote the general welfare

of society and it is enforced through many social

obligations. Yet is my opinion something the whole world

will agree with? Others might perceive these thinkers’

view in a different way.

Hobbes makes a strong argument that humans are a

lot more similar to each other than the differences we

tend to articulate. “Nature hath made men so equal, in

the faculties of body and mind, as that though there be

found one man sometimes manifestly stronger in body, or

of quicker mind than another; yet when all is reckoned

together, the difference between man and man is not so

considerable, as that one man can thereupon claim to

himself any benefit, to which another may not pretend, as

well as he. For as to the strength of body, the weakest has

strength enough to kill the strongest, either by secret

machination or by confederacy with others that are in the

same danger with himself.” (Hobbes) As an advocate for

equal rights I do believe in what Hobbes is saying. Where

one person may lack in physical aspects he may shine in

intellect, and vice versa. As social creatures if one lacks in

both physical and the intellect aspects they can make up

for with others in their predicament by banning together.

Despite all the discrimination in the world and what forms

it takes like racism, sexism, homophobia, and how it

manifests itself into hate crimes, hate speeches, we

humans are still very much equal.

The civil rights movement was the stepping stone to

equality for African Americans. They endured

discrimination at its cruelest, but proved today that they

can be just as great intellects, athletes, performers, and

people deserving of equality as any other race. The

perception of women as dainty, fragile creatures has

changed into the world viewing them as citizens who

deserved a voice and they were given the right to vote. In

current events women are becoming more prominent in

male dominant professions like politics and in science.

Within the past fifty years homosexuality has since been

taken out of the books as a mental illness, and revealed

for the natural human behavior that it is. Homosexuals are

gaining more rights, and being shown in a more positive

light than ever before. Every day the world is striving to

become more and more equal, and that is because

everyone is capable. Aspects that drive discrimination

(age, sex, race, sexual identity) do not hinder the human

race, it is our perception of them that does.

To make sure that these perceptions don’t clash at

every second of every day is where the idea of justice and

social obligations come in. John Stuart Mill’s ideals show

that justice is the overall wellbeing of society as a whole.

In order to make sure that society as whole is treated

equally a foundation of rights is placed on everyone

regardless. To complement this ideal, what if anyone has

those foundation right taken away? What sanctions will be

exercised to keep the balance of equality? That is where

the perceptions will clash, combined with the perceptions

if every human being is truly equal or not.

The greatest hurdle in a just and fair society is

perception. I advocate equal rights for everyone. To me

Hobbes’ and Mills’ ideals on equality and the general

welfare of society sounded the nicest and most just on

paper. Yet this is my perception. Someone is bound to

disagree with me. With most people on this world living in

their own individualistic perception and interpretation of

“justice” and “fairness,” I do not think a just society is

capable of existing.

Chaffee, J. (2011).  The philosopher's way . (3 ed.,

p. 516). New York: