Chapter 1: On the Origins of Social Justice: Darwin, Freire, Marx and Vivekananda

This article examines the fundamental reasons for educational research and practice in social justice from evolutionary, ideological and philosophical viewpoints. The tension between nihilistic¹ and empathetic tendencies within humanity’s evolution is used to reflexively examine the origins and causes of inequity. The relevance of the works of Paolo Freire, Karl Marx, and Vivekananda for contemporary social justice research is examined.