It is time to rethink justice. Dominant in the West is the classic definition of justice as the constant will to render another his due. In the modern world, this definition has come to mean rights and retribution. However, based on his experience as an activist in Kashmir and the Great Lakes Region of Africa, Prof. Daniel Philpott (Notre Dame) finds this conception inadequate for reconciliation after large-scale violence and denials of dignity. By contrast, the Bible offers a broader concept of justice based on right relationship. This framework does not reject rights or punishment but includes obligations and virtues that extend beyond duty: mercy, generosity, and forgiveness. In this lecture, Prof. Philpott explores the biblical understanding of justice and the way it can bear fruit in contemporary society, including reducing our current polarization and addressing historical wounds such as racism.

Daniel Philpott is Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame. This lecture was given at the Morningside Institute on October 6, 2021. The Morningside Institute brings scholars and students together to examine human life beyond the classroom and consider its deepest questions through the life of New York City. For more information about upcoming events, please visit https://www.morningsideinstitute.org.