Comparing Human Lives

4 Pages 988 Words

“Fiat justitia et pereat mundus.” This is a quote from Emperor Ferdinand I that’s translates, “Let justice be done, though the world perish.” Although this was quoted over 500 years ago, the message that it portrays can still be applied today. In William Godwin’s “Comparing Human Lives,” he constantly refers to the word justice when discussing whether or not the life of Fenelon, the Archbishop of Cambrai, is more important than the life of his chambermaid. Although Godwin does bring up very supportive arguments that support his rational way of thinking, I believe that his ethics of gratitude being no part either of justice or virtue is highly inaccurate.
Before we get into the topic of justice I think that it’s crucial to understand just what the word actually means. According to Webster’s Dictionary the word justice comes from the Latin term justitia, which means the maintenance or administration of what is just, or acting or being in conformity with what is morally upright or good. This is important to understand when reading Godwin’s passage because his rational of justice states that we live in a hierarchy of classes, where one person has more of a right to live than another. He starts off by saying that “man is more worth than beast” because we are capable of more “refined and genuine happiness.” Although this might be true and although it is “probable that one of us (as humans) is a being of more worth and importance than another,” how do you determine the value of your life verses another? In his example, there is a fire where Fenelon, the archbishop, and his chambermaid are trapped and if you could only save one of their lives, whose would you choose? Godwin’s thinking is that the life of Fenelon is preferable to that of his chambermaid so you would be doing the just thing by saving Fenelon and to do otherwise would be a “breach of justice.” Although I do agree that Fenelon is a be...