While the concept of social justice can be traced through Ancient and Renaissance philosophy, such as Socrates, Thomas Aquinas, Spinoza and Tom Paine, the term “social justice” only became used explicitly from the 1840s. A Jesuit priest named Luigi Taparelli is typically credited with coining the term, and it spread during the revolutions of 1848 with the work of Antonio Rosmini-Serbati. In the late industrial revolution, progressive American legal scholars began to use the term more, particularly Louis Brandeis and Roscoe Pound
Wikipedia
My guess is muckraker journalists/writers.
best i can find...
The goal: Full and equal participation of all groups in society
Adams, Bell and Griffin (1997) define social justice as both a process and a goal. "The goal of social justice education is full and equal participation of all groups in a society that is mutually shaped to meet their needs. Social justice includes a vision of society that is equitable and all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure."
Abrahan Lincoln. If he didn’t do it, he set the stage for it.
Civil rights gave it legs.
Over 20 years old from Bay Area in California.
Started with Janitors for Justice.
It morphed into SEIU
if you go to Mount Rushmore at the official monument you will learn there that the US was established for “life, liberty and the pursuit of SOCIAL JUSTICE.”
I think it was Homo Erectus in a conversation with Homo heidelbergensis, but it was a bit before my time and I can’t verify it.
Karl Marx
Posts #2 and #3 got it. FReepers know everything!
The term (rather than the concept), is Roman Catholic.
The heritage.org link is very good.
Just because liberals probably invented the term doesn’t mean they have to own it. Gun rights are a matter of social justice and I use that term whenever I can.