The Oxford English Dictionary defines fairness as "equitableness, fair dealing, honesty, impartiality, uprightness." Fairness is also intimiately intertwined with the concept of justice. Indeed, it is absolutely central to the formalized processes of dispute resolution used the world over. Nevertheless, it is a flexible notion.

In the context of the schema, the establishment of fairness norms between parties is essential to their cooperation. To this extent, fairness is situationally dependent; in small-scale interaction, there is no necessary reference to an objective definition of equality. However fairness is defined in a particular relationship, breach of it can shatter trust between the parties.

References

Oxford English Dictionary (2d ed. 1989).