On Justice as Equality

A critical reexamination of the equity theory conception of justice is presented; the alternative, justice as equality, is introduced and examined, utilizing both theoretical and empirical materials to develop the argument. The implications of these two alternate perspectives on justice are examined with emphasis on the sociohistorical roots and present support for what is presumably a psychological principle i.e., equity is the natural preferred state of human relationships. The role of social psychological research and theory in contributing to the existing system of support for the equity conception is noted, as is the potential value that derives from a serious consideration of conditions conducive to the alternative conception of relationships as based on equity.