Chivalry: Justice

Justice is the second of Scott Farrell's seven knightly virtues; it's also extremely important in regards to the social systems of today. I imagine that the laws of yesteryear were perhaps more greatly defined than those of today, as the rise of free-speech has blurred the line between what is right and what is opinion, but a strong sense of justice can be extremely attractive in a potential mate.

A sense of justice is a good thing to have, as you'll be far more likely to fight for what you believe in, to defend those in need, and to compromise to meet the greater needs of whatever group you're a part of. A sense of justice in your partner is a great thing, as, even in the event of a break-up, you won't have to worry as much about being short-changed -- mostly because they would never be able to justify to themselves having taken something from you that they didn't deserve.

It seems that, quite often, people are unwilling to fight for what they feel they deserve, even if they know that they are owed it. The chivalrous man will fight for his rights, no matter how small or big they may seem, and won't rest until he has been satisfied. He will also fight for the rights of those he cares for (and sometimes for those he's only somewhat acquainted with) in order to instill a sense of what's right in the world.

Arguments with the chivalrous person will be far less stressful than those with others. People with a strong sense of justice are far more willing to see both sides of an issue than those of us who may be lacking said sense. When arguing with someone that has a good sense of justice, you know that, if you're able to get your points across in a sensible manner, you'll be able to convince the other party that you're right. And if you're wrong, the other person will be able to convince you of that fact. It's this that makes a good lawyer, as they can draw out the facts and find a clear solution.

The need, not to be right, but to resolve conflict judiciously, even if that means being wrong, lends itself greatly to conflict management. Often, when trapped in an argument, one party will resolve to simply give in to the whims of the other in order to end the discussion and move on. Others will choose to compromise, ensuring that both parties lose something that they want in order to come to any sort of agreement. Collaboration is key, allowing each party to have everything that they need, which is why it's also the most difficult of all conflict styles to attain.

The chivalrous man's sense of justice will also lend to his ease in apologising when he finds himself at fault. His admittance of fault comes from a combination of his inability to take credit for accomplishments that aren't his own and his need to ensure that the proper parties have their opinions validated, especially when they appear to be right.

As a co-worker, a sense of justice is invaluable, as you'll never find yourself usurped of your own ideas. Even if he does present the ideas for you, due to his being the team leader or having greater access to superiors than you do, he will give credit where credit is due, and you will not find yourself wanting. The chivalrous co-worker will also go to bat for you if there's a human resources issue that you can't handle on your own, and will help psych you up for any meeting that you might have with the higher-ups, so it pays to make friends at work, especially if those friends have a firm grasp of right and wrong.

In medieval times, knights were the protectors of the king, and therefore worked to protect the kingdom as well. As such they were the voices of the people, fighting for whatever rights and freedoms the people had available to them. As such, they were looked up to by the people, as knights were the ones giving the people a voice amongst the king's court. In today's society they exist mostly as police officers and judges, upholding the laws of society, but...well, not everyone respects them as they might have respected knights back in the day.