The term “social justice” has varying modern connotations, both good and bad. But where did the concept come from, and what did it originally mean? Mary FioRito explains how social justice originated in Catholic social teaching as a way to describe the optimal balance of individual liberty and the common good for society.

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

Learn more about Mary FioRito:
https://catholicwomensforum.org/staff/mary-fiorito/

Related Links:

Social Justice: Not What You Think It Is
https://www.heritage.org/poverty-and-inequality/report/social-justice-not-what-you-think-it

The Origins of Social Justice: Taparelli d’Azeglio
https://isi.org/intercollegiate-review/the-origins-of-social-justice-taparelli-dazeglio/

Is Social Justice Just? The Justice of Economic Opportunity
https://fedsoc.org/commentary/videos/is-social-justice-just-the-justice-of-economic-opportunity-policybrief

Differing Views

Is Social Justice Just? The Moral Obligations of Social Justice
https://fedsoc.org/commentary/videos/is-social-justice-just-the-moral-obligations-of-social-justice-policybrief

Is Social Justice Just? Why Income Inequality is Just
https://fedsoc.org/commentary/videos/is-social-justice-just-why-income-inequality-is-just-policybrief

What is Social Justice?
https://www.pachamama.org/social-justice/what-is-social-justice#:~:text=A%20Brief%20History%20of%20Social,capitalistic%20exploitation%20of%20human%20labor.

A History of Social Justice
https://www.socialjusticenews.net/en/social-justice