Full Idea
Justice has come to be interpreted as equality, except where exceptional merit is thought to deserve an exceptional but still moderate reward.
Gist of Idea
Modern justice is seen as equality, apart from modest extra rewards for exceptional desert
Source
Bertrand Russell (Authority and the Individual [1949], 5)
Book Reference
Russell,Bertrand: 'Authority and the Individual' [Unwin 1977], p.70
A Reaction
Kekes rebels against this modern distortion of justice, which traditionally means everyone getting what they deserve - good or bad. The modern egalitarian view seems to be a rebellion against the harsh interpretation of the older view.
Related Idea
Idea 23079 Liberal justice ignores desert, which is the essence of justice [Kekes]