Final answer:
A social action is deemed a work of justice if it contributes to fair distribution of opportunities, resources, and rights in line with philosophical principles such as Marxism, Plato's functional specialization, Rawls's veil of ignorance, or non-Western and Islamic values of altruism.
Step-by-step explanation:
To describe what makes a particular social action a work of justice, it is important to consider how that action contributes to an equitable or fair distribution of opportunities, resources, and rights within society. The concept of social justice has been defined and understood in various ways, reflecting the complex interplay between social welfare, individual liberty, and the eradication of class repression.
Marxism, for example, seeks a form of social justice in which resources are distributed based on individual needs, negating economic discrimination. Similarly, Plato's theory of justice advocates for societal harmony through the specialization and effective functioning of all social classes. On the other hand, Rawls's theory posits that justice would be constructed from a hypothetical 'veil of ignorance', ensuring no bias or discrimination could be predetermined by societal designers.
Moreover, non-Western perspectives and those of Islamic scholars emphasize altruism and adherence to divine principles, challenging Western individualism. Thus, a social action can be seen as a work of justice based on how thoroughly it embodies these equitable principles and aligns with a given philosophical or ethical understanding of what a fair society entails.