Abstract
Justice is different from the other virtues.1 It is not about what people should do, such as in acts of benevolence (be more benevolent more often) or of prudence (be more prudent). These are positive virtues that are voluntary, not forced. You cannot force people to be virtuous. Flogging someone for failing to be beneficent (acting kindly) makes nonsense of the virtue in which she is defective!
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2005 Gavin Kennedy
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kennedy, G. (2005). Justice as a Negative Virtue. In: Adam Smith’s Lost Legacy. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230511194_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230511194_15
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-52484-6
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-51119-4
eBook Packages: Palgrave Economics & Finance CollectionEconomics and Finance (R0)