Fairness, the Hardest to Measure Virtue

Louis-Jean-Francois Lagrenee, “Justice Disarmed by Innocence and Applauded by Prudence”, 1766

The time horizon matters.  In unpacking several of the ice breaker cases, a common theme was time horizon.  There were several examples of where one of us did not get the response we wanted on a proposal, or on our next career move, and were disappointed, even bitterly so.  But then, over time, the wisdom of the decision, or at least the consequences of the decision, brought us to a better outcome than we would have had before the decision.  The conclusion was that often what seems “unfair” to us in the short term, often works out to be very “fair” in the longer term.  And when you throw God into it—whose time horizons are unlimited—fairness becomes even more hard to judge.  We have to look at the situation from multiple angles (below), but also multiple time periods.  Whether we are in the position of delivering judgement on a matter, or are on the receiving end of a judgement, we need to consider time horizon.  We need to be in it for the long term. 

Multiple perspectives matter.  Another related issue arising from the icebreakers was that the most fair decisions we’d made and/or received, were often ones where the judge reviewed the situation from everyone’s angle, not just his own.  As much as we humans like to believe we are always being fair, the reality is we often see things only from our own perspective.  And especially when the “negotiation” is within a family around a family matter, taking the time and effort to fully explore and understand the other’s point of view can often lead to insights that change how we approach the problem.  Listening helps a lot.   Multiple perspectives matter, but you won’t find them if you don’t listen for them.

A ‘Timeout’ can help.  Sometimes, before we pass judgement, the fairest thing to do is to just stall for time.  Stalling for time gives everyone involved a chance to gain perspective, and consider the multiple perspectives and time horizons that are involved with the future decision.  It also gives everyone a chance to cool down before they act in anger.   Often, when we do this , we discover that God has a plan even when we can’t find one.

Fairness results when the sword of Justice is tempered by Innocence and informed by Prudence.  In the Art Corner, we reflected on how the artist contemplated how Justice should work.  It should not be blind, nor should it be “quick” or rash.  It should be patient.  And it should never assume the worst in the other, but rather presume his/her innocence.  And it should carefully weigh all the facts and all the outcomes; it should be prudent.  Fairness is impossible to objectively measure, and is the virtue that requires most of the other great virtues to truly work.

Resolution:  We resolved this summer to each week, in prayer, review one of the nine resolutions coming out of our circles this season in Naples.