Impartiality

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Impartiality (also called evenhandedness or fair-mindedness) is a principle of justice holding that decisions should be based on objective criteria, rather than on the basis of bias, prejudice, or preferring the benefit to one person over another for improper reasons.

Religious concepts

Buddhism

  • There are seven factors of enlightenment: clear memory, the exact investigation of things, energy and sympathy, tranquility, impartiality, and a disposition for concentration. The last four factors are the "four sublime states," and are believed to be prerequisites for escaping cyclic existence. (Occhiogrosso 96)

Christianity

  • "For there is no respect of persons with God." —Romans 2:11, KJV
  • "But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons." —Colossians 3:25, KJV
  • "My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim that you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people more than others? For instance, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in shabby clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, 'You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor'—well, doesn't this discrimination show that you are guided by wrong motives? Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn't God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren't they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? And yet, you insult the poor man! Isn't it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren't they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? Yes indeed, it is good when you truly obey our Lord's royal command found in the scriptures: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you pay special attention to the rich, you are committing a sin, for you are guilty of breaking that law." —Epistle of James 2:1-9, NLT
  • "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." -Epistle of James 3:17, NIV

Hinduism

  • "Truth, O Bharata, as it exists in all the world, is of thirteen kinds. The forms that Truth assumes are impartiality, self-control, forgiveness, modesty, endurance, goodness, renunciation, contemplation, dignity, fortitude, compassion, and abstention from injury."—Truth, The Mahabharata, Santi Parva, Section CLXII.

Islam

  • "The Absolute Criterion of Justice and Equity, was sent down by Allah so that people may conduct themselves with equity." Quran, 52:25.
  • "Establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance. Maintain the balance with fairness and justice, without differentiating anybody's rights and obligations." Quran 55:9.

Judaism

  • "You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor." —Leviticus 19:15, English Standard Version
  • "You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike." —Deuteronomy 1:17, ESV
  • "These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment." —Book of Proverbs 24:23, KJV

See also

References

  • Gert, Bernard. 1995. "Moral Impartiality." Midwest Studies in Philosophy XX: 102-127.
  • Dworkin, Ronald. 1977. Taking Rights Seriously. Harvard University Press.
  • Occhiogrosso, Peter. "Buddhism," The Joy of Sects: a spirited guide to the world's religious traditions, 1991 p. 84

External links

Look up impartiality in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

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