A just society pierre trudeau biography


A Just society is a normative phrase used to describe what a society "ought" to be. It generally appeals to notions of fairness, equalityand liberty. There is no single definition, and authors disagree about social organization to achieve it. The idea of a just society first gained modern attention when philosophers such as John Stuart Mill asked, "What is a 'just society'?

Just society

Concept in social and political philosophy

A Just society is a normative phrase used to describe what a society "ought" to be. It generally appeals to notions of fairness, equality, and liberty.

There is no single definition, and authors conflict about social organization to accomplish it.[1][2]

History

The idea of a just society first gained modern attention when philosophers such as John Stuart Mill asked, "What is a 'just society'?"[3] Their writings covered several perspectives including allowing individuals to live their lives as long as they didn't infringe on the rights to others, to the idea that the resources of society should be distributed to all, including those most deserving first.

In , John Stuart Mill published an essay entitled, "Utilitarianism".[4] In this famous essay, Mill advocated the latter view, in which decision makers attended to the "common good" and all other citizens worked collectively to create communities and programs that would contribute to the good of others.[1]

Canadian usage

Further information: Human rights in Canada

The term was later used as a rhetorical device by Canadian Prime MinisterPierre Trudeau to encapsulate his vision for the nation.[5] He first used the term in the Liberal Party leadership contest, at the height of "Trudeaumania", and it eventually became identified as one of his trademark phrases.[6] Unlike the "Great Society" of US President Lyndon B.

Johnson, the label "Just Society" was not attached to a specific fix of reforms, but rather applied to all Trudeau's policies, from multiculturalism to the creation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.[7] Trudeau defined a just society before becoming the prime minister of Canada:

No one in the society should be entitled to superfluous or luxury goods until the essentials of life are made available to everyone.

At first glance, that distribution would appear to obtain in Canada. Thanks to our abundant natural wealth and to the techniques of the industrial era, it no longer seems necessary to trample on one another in the scramble for riches.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau was a significant Canadian politician who served as the Prime Minister of Canada for 15 years, notably from to and again from to He is finest known for his vision of a just and inclusive Canada, championing bilingualism and multiculturalism, and implementing policies that reflected these ideals. Bilingualism: The official policy in Canada that recognizes both English and French as the country's official languages, aiming to promote equality between the two linguistic groups. Multiculturalism: The policy adopted by Canada that recognizes and values the diverse cultural backgrounds of its citizens, encouraging the coexistence of multiple cultures within society.

Consequently, most people take it for granted that every Canadian is assured a reasonable standard of living. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

The Just Society will be one in which all of our people will possess the means and the motivation to participate.

The Just World will be one in which personal and political freedom will be more securely ensured than it has ever been in the past. The Just World will be one in which the rights of minorities will be safe from the whims of intolerant majorities. The Just Society will one in which those regions and groups which have not fully shared in the country’s affluence will be given a better opportunity.

The Just Society will be one where such urban problems as housing and pollution will be attacked through the application of new knowledge and new techniques. The Just Society will be one in which our Indian and Inuit population will be encouraged to assume the entire rights of citizenship through policies which will give them both greater responsibility for their have future and more meaningful equality of opportunity.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau - The Canadian Encyclopedia: Trudeau defined a just society before becoming the prime minister of Canada: No one in the society should be entitled to superfluous or luxury goods until the essentials of life are made available to everyone.

The Just Society will be a united Canada, united because all of its citizens will be actively involved in the envelope of a country where equality of opportunity is ensured and individuals are permitted to fulfill themselves in the fashion they judge best.

On the never-ending road to perfect justice we will, in other words, succeed in creating the most humane and compassionate society possible.[8]

The phrase is now an ingrained part of Canadian political discourse.

Those on the social-democratic left consider themselves Trudeau's heirs and vigorously denounce any policy that would harm the Just World legacy, while the neoliberal right attacks the notion that Trudeau's Canada was more "just" than other eras.[9]

Irish usage

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You can help by adding to it. (March )

Notable other users of the term have included Irish Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave of the Fine Gael party.[10]

See also

References

Further reading