Fairness

Fairness is a term that is commonly employed. In respect of its everyday usage, it is commonly interpreted as meaning justice, the absence of bias, and being equitable or impartial in accordance with certain rules. As such, whenever claims of unfairness are considered, seemingly familiar and accepted principles are employed in determining the merits of the claim.

On reflection, whenever the notion of fairness is employed, many questions remain unanswered, not least the question of whether the notion of fairness can be an objective assessment. Its nature is also problematic. Whether justice, a lack of bias, and an equitable or impartial process or outcome are determinants that can be substituted for fairness or whether fairness is something more or less than any one of them is ...