Rettferdig

Rettferdig is a Norwegian adjective meaning fair, just, or right. It describes actions, decisions, or systems that treat people equally and impartially, without bias or favoritism. In everyday usage it is used to describe fair play, fair treatment, or a just outcome, for example in phrases like en rettferdig beslutning or rettferdig fordeling av ressurser.

The noun rettferdighet refers to the quality or state of fairness. The term derives from rett, meaning right, law, or correct, and ferdig in the sense of proper or complete. Together they express the idea of adherence to what is ethically or legally right. Rettferdig describes people or processes that aim for fairness. The concept is central in ethics, law, and public policy, and covers both distributive justice (how benefits and burdens are allocated) and procedural justice (how decisions are made).

In practice, rettferdighet guides rules on taxation, welfare, punishment, and resource allocation. Debates often focus on balancing equality of opportunity with equality of outcome, and on ensuring impartial procedures that protect individual rights. In Nordic welfare contexts, rettferdighet is linked to equal access to services and due process, while critics may argue about trade-offs with efficiency or personal responsibility.

Rettferdighet is a common topic in political discourse, journalism, and education, reflecting a shared emphasis on fair treatment in a pluralistic society. It also intersects with related ideas such as likhet (equality) and moral philosophy, where different theories explain why fairness matters and how it should be achieved.