Overview
This lecture introduces the importance of justice, the purpose of laws, and the responsibility to stand up against injustice in society.
Purpose of Laws
- Laws exist to maintain social order and protect personal rights.
- Laws provide justice and reliability from the government.
Injustice and Bystander Effect
- Injustice occurs when authority is misused or fairness is ignored.
- People often do not intervene in injustice if it does not affect them directly.
- Ignoring injustice enables it to persist and may lead to personal harm in the future.
Responsibility to Act
- Each person has a duty to stand up for others facing injustice.
- Relying on others to fight injustice is insufficient; personal action is required.
- Speaking up for others empowers justice and truth in society.
- Critical thinking is essential to challenge unfairness, even against group opinion.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Justice — the principle of fairness and moral rightness in society.
- Bystander Effect — the tendency to not help others in need when others are present.
- Critical Thinking — the objective analysis and evaluation of issues to form a judgment.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Reflect on situations where you witnessed injustice and did not act.
- Practice critical thinking and speaking up against unfair situations.
- Be prepared to discuss examples of standing up for justice in the next class.