Justice (Dikaiosyne)

Table of Contents

  • For Epicurus there is no absolute justice. Justice is a compact of mutual advantage, made among people who live together, neither to harm one another nor to be harmed, and what counts as just changes with circumstances.

    Greek δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē)

    1. Key Texts

    Quote from Epicurus, Principal Doctrine 31

    Nature's justice is a guarantee of utility with a view to not harming one another and not being harmed. (tr. Long & Sedley)

    Quote from Epicurus, Principal Doctrine 33

    Justice was never anything per se, but a contract, regularly arising at some place or other in people's dealings with one another, over not harming or being harmed. (tr. Long & Sedley)

    2. See Also

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