Abstract

Aristotle considers that justice in general varies according to constitutions and that it also takes different forms according to times and cultures. But this assumed conventionalism does not prevent us from considering certain things just absolutely, precisely those that correspond to laws enacted in the three regimes themselves considered just absolutely (royalty, aristocracy, polity). But since the laws may still differ between these three regimes, should we postulate the existence of an even more fundamental just? Would it be the just natural? Not sure, since Aristotle sometimes maintains that everything changes in the sensible world including what is natural. But perhaps there is a deeper just which is natural, and which frees itself from all change, imposing itself absolutely everywhere? It would then remain to determine what such a concept of just contains and whether it should be placed at the limit of the positive law, or even still beyond it.