What’s fair? To whom? Who said that fair was something you deserved, your right? ‘Fair’ is such a moving target that it’s difficult getting a precise definition. For many people ‘fair’ is whatever it is they want at a particular point in time, but that’s only part of what I meant by fair being a moving target. Fair has to be built on a standard applied to all? Yes!
Fair is one of those words that’s a noun, adjective, and an adverb which means that it has multiple uses as a word. But… does this mean that the word has multiple definitions? No. Webster’s definition of fair: marked by impartiality and honesty; free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism , conforming with the established rules. If those 4 components are not in evidence then the act or decision is not fair. I also believe that impartiality is probably the overriding concern – the largest issue is if (it) is free of self-interest or prejudice and especially favoritism. I doubt that there is much that is more irritating than feeling that preferential treatment is existing. People need to believe that decisions involving them are not skewed in an adverse way.
Fair is also observable – what you see happening in the situation whether or not you are directly involved. All this is directly related to equal. Example: given the same set of circumstances, would the end result be the same regardless of the participants? If it isn’t then fairness did not exist. When I was a child I typically coupled fair with justice. I think I still do – but they’re not (necessarily) the same thing.
The basic question though is – do you act fairly? In my definition of ‘fair’ is the belief that if you don’t deal fairly you can’t expect to be treated fairly… a kind of quid pro quo. But equally important – if you aren’t treated fairly this does not give you license to act unfairly. Those people who have as part of their personal philosophy a fairness doctrine must act according to those principles. Fair is another big word and you need to know what your definition is.
