EXPLORING THE CONCEPT OF JUSTICE IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EDO CULTURE WITHIN THE FRAME OF RELATIVE UNIVERSALISM

Abstract

Culture influences understanding, and a look at diverse subjects from the spectacles of different cultures could help in arriving at a more robust appreciation of these subjects. This paper explores the concept of justice in Ancient Near East and Edo culture within a re-imagined theoretical framework of relative universalism. The study aims to reveal the common values and principles that reinforced the concept of justice in these two distinct cultural contexts. The paper pays attention to the cultural and societal factors that shaped the idea of justice in both societies and argues that Ancient Near Eastern culture, though credited with the creation of the oldest law codes in history, is not universal in the understanding of justice from ancient times. The work relies on the African comparative method of African cultural hermeneutics and finds that: from the lens of relative universalism, justice has several dimensions and its application varies in different cultural contexts; the concept of justice presents with intriguing parallels and divergences in both Ancient Near Eastern civilizations and Edo culture; and the practices of justice in these ancient cultures offer valid perspectives to a more comprehensive understanding of justice as an evolving concept. This provides a channel for critical discourse on inclusive and culturally sensitive justice systems in contemporary societies. The paper concludes that the journey towards a more inclusive justice system in any society in contemporary times must pay attention to the evolving tapestry of cultural principles and practices that shaped the ideas of justice in various cultures.