Idea of Progressive Justice

Introduction
The inherent human tendency to achieve justice, along with its conceptual complexity and difficulty in implementation, has greatly increased the depth and scope of justice discussions, making it one of the few topics that have remained a focus of research since ancient times. On the other hand, in the modern era, progress has been a central concern for all societies striving toward a desired state. Thus, justice and progress are considered major and fundamental goals for society. If these two are not the same or at least complementary, then two distinct and major goals must be determined and pursued, which is practically problematic. Hence, the relationship between justice and progress has been a challenge for both theories of justice and theories of progress. This article examines the most important theories of justice and their degree of proximity to the concept of progress. Since these theories have not satisfactorily resolved the dichotomy between progress and justice, new efforts are necessary. The present study is a step toward reducing the gap between justice and progress. For this purpose, the contradiction between theories of justice and progress is explored. Then, considering the different meanings of fairness, another perspective of justice is presented that closely aligns with progress. The contributions of the study include explaining the dichotomy of justice and progress in existing theories and finding its cause; introducing the concept of contentual fairness as a basis for social justice; recognizing dynamic justice focused on the process of upward social mobility and introducing its equivalent concept as progressive justice; introducing the proper social position and using it to clarify the concept of progressive justice; and expanding the realm of social justice by extending it to the material and spiritual merits of society, beyond the realization of justice for individuals.
Research Methodology
This study is fundamental in nature with applied implications. In its background, library research on theories of justice was conducted, and selected views of ancient Greek thinkers, Islamic and Iranian scholars, and European figures after the Middle Ages were examined regarding social justice, with particular emphasis on their relationship to the concepts of social mobility, progress, and development. In the theoretical discussions, the method of conceptual analysis was used to ponder and analyze the concepts of fairness in relation to justice. Accordingly, the concept of progressive justice was introduced and explained. Finally, conclusions were drawn.
Results and Discussion
Contentual Fairness
It is known that “justice is fairness.” The word “fairness” in Persian and Arabic is rooted in “half,” meaning two halves of one thing are equal. The equality of something among members of society, which is called fairness in the formal sense, is not sufficient to realize justice. We must pursue fairness in another sense, which we call contentual justice. For this purpose, the subject of equality must be changed, and this cannot be achieved by merely replacing one characteristic with another. The meaning of justice as contentual fairness can be understood from wisdom number 437 of Nahj al-Balagha, which states: “Justice is putting things in their place.” Here, two things are not compared. Rather, a single thing is considered in relation to its place. Therefore, contentual fairness means the equality of the actual place of a thing with its proper place. In a society, contentual fairness and justice are established when the talents of individuals are developed in such a way that each person reaches a social position that matches their proper position. In this case, justice in the sense of formal fairness is also necessarily established. This is due to the fact that all individuals will then be equal in one characteristic, which is the equality of their actual social position with their proper position.
Dynamic Justice
Social justice can be understood in two senses. In the first, social justice is a desirable state of society and a transcendent goal for humanity. In the second sense, social justice is the way society behaves, reflecting the pace of society's progress and the balance and equilibrium in the advancement of institutions and functions. In this case, social justice is not the destination of society, but rather it accompanies society and defines how society evolves. Social justice is a static matter in the first sense and a dynamic matter in the second sense. Static justice and dynamic justice can be combined. Static justice expresses the desired structure of society, and dynamic justice expresses the desired function of society. Both structure and function are the objects of progress. Therefore, justice is both a destination and a path; it is related to both the present and the future.
Convergence of Justice and Progress
The social position of an individual according to dynamic justice is a position that is proportional to their talents, capabilities, and competencies at each moment. Fairness dictates that this position be equal to the proper social position of the individual. This position represents a more advanced stage than the previous position. Justice is the transformation and actualization of possessions, including talents and capabilities. With the realization of justice, everybody is in their proper place, as are things other than people. In this way, the resulting structure is optimized. That is, everything is placed in the best position with respect to its internal characteristics and external relations, and the possibility of further optimal functioning is provided. The functioning toward the proper position is defined as progress.
According to what has been said, a proper social position is envisaged for every sort of possession. If we define possessions and their corresponding positions with a comprehensive and dynamic view, we approach the basis for a new idea of justice. According to this idea, which may be called progressive justice, individuals should achieve what they do not have in terms of what they do have. What they have at every moment is a combination of talents, capabilities, and competencies that must be flourished. All these are a potential for an actuality that will be achieved. The transformation of potential into actuality through a progressive movement is a process in which cognitive, physical, emotional, and other types of possessions are flourished through formal and informal education, social relations, experiences, skill acquisition, and actions.
The first step in progressive justice is the identification of talents. This must begin in childhood. Therefore, the comprehensive process of identifying talents should be taught to nurses, parents, and teachers. Simultaneously with identifying talents, their development and guidance should be carried out. Children should be taught how to recognize their talents and engage in new and innovative experiences to develop them, so they become empowered. Identifying, nurturing, and developing talents are the most important tasks for the emergence of capabilities. Capabilities will evolve from ordinary to specialized and be promoted to professional abilities or competencies. The customary and legal structures and processes of society must allow for the exercise of capabilities and encourage people to transform these capabilities into corresponding competencies and actions. Progressive justice is not limited to humans and is aimed at all talents and capabilities, whether natural, constructed, or human. If everything, including individuals and human groups, natural resources, social structures, and processes, is in its rational position—static justice—or is evolving toward its rational position—dynamic justice—then justice is established. Determining the desired position of things is the design of the target society, and the way to achieve it is the progress program or the justice program. Therefore, a just society and a progressed society are the same, and the progress program and the justice program, which are the ways to achieve progress and justice, are the same. Progressive justice, by unifying justice and progress, is a step toward resolving the fundamental challenge of the divergence between theories of progress and theories of justice.
Justice and freedom
Progressive justice is achieved by the social actions of individuals toward their own worth. Freedom is one of the most important external factors necessary for social action. At all stages of personal development, including childhood, a person must have the freedom to act in order to express their interests and develop their talents. For this purpose, social obstacles that disrupt their freedom should not be present. On the other hand, transformational factors must be available for their progress. Each person must be able to recognize their talents, make decisions, and engage in experiences to develop them, and have options for this purpose. Without freedom, capability and action do not make sense, and progressive justice cannot be achieved.
Conclusion
In this article, by recalling the formal meaning of fairness, which is the equality of two halves, contentual fairness was defined as the equality of an individual's actual social position with their proper social position. Social justice is then regarded as the attainment of this proper position. This achievement takes place in a human and social process defined as dynamic justice, which is the same as the individual's progress. Therefore, when the status of individuals matches their proper positions, society becomes just. This, at the most fundamental level of existence, relies on the social nature of humanity. In a just society, justice in the sense of formal fairness also exists because the individuals of that society are equal in achieving their dignity. Individuals, like society, have the same right and duty to strive for and assist in achieving their own and others' dignity. The realization of individuals' progress toward their proper status requires social conditions, including freedom. Thus, progressive justice is not only directed at individuals and human society but also includes the attainment of the material and spiritual talents of society to their proper status. Resources and endowments should not only be fairly distributed but should also flourish and reach their full potential. Under this principle, environmental requirements are subordinate to justice. Therefore, this perspective considers a broader scope than other ideas of justice.