Universal Justice and Differential Justice

Social justice encompasses both universal justice and differential justice, which are mutually complementary and indispensable. The distinction between universal justice and differential justice lies in their focus and approach: universal justice emphasizes the concept of “one share per person,” while differential justice emphasizes different treatment; universal justice prioritizes societal support, whereas differential justice emphasizes individual efforts. Universal justice entails a relatively high social cost but a low personal cost, whereas the opposite holds true for differential justice. The social function of universal justice is multifaceted: it fosters social cohesion, thereby enhancing social security; it stimulates domestic consumption; and it effectively harnesses society-wide potential. Conversely, differential justice primarily contributes to stimulating social vitality, fostering a diverse and enriched society, and promoting the prosperity and development of ideology and culture. Overemphasizing either universal justice or differential justice alone implies a partial separation between the two, potentially resulting in varying degrees of negative societal impacts.