Classical Social Justice: A Philosophical Exploration of the Roots of Social and Economic Inequities

For a socially just community to occur, decision-making must employ respectful procedures that value input from representatives of all economic contexts. By considering philosophical roots of Western societal development, it is possible to gain insight into the systemic processes underlying these circumstances. By understanding these bases, multicultural theorists and researchers may better explore the foundational theories for the societal values and challenge conventional interpretations. In this article, the authors review the origins of modern socioeconomic theories by summarizing the ideas of the classical ancient Greek philosophers, focusing on Aristotle and Xenophon. Afterward, they contrast these views with those of the prominent lower economic class figure, Jesus of Nazareth. Finally, they relate their analysis of these historical philosophies to postmodern education and offer direction for practice.