Why Do They Say Justice is Blind? - Meaning of the Phrase
Origin of the Phrase
The idea of blind justice goes back thousands of years, with roots in ancient Roman and Greek philosophy. But the visual representation we know today comes from the Roman Goddess Justitia, also known as Lady Justice, who is often depicted wearing a blindfold while holding scales and a sword.
Though, something to note is that the blindfold wasn’t always a standard feature. It became more common during the 16th century, especially in Europe, as a way to reinforce the concept that justice must be objective and unbiased.
What does the phrase mean?
Well there are two interpretations for the phrase "Justice is Blind". One is idealistic and the other is more cynical.
Interpretation 1:
In this interpretation, everyone is equal under the law. Lady Justice doesn’t see race, gender, wealth, or status. She listens only to the facts, the arguments, and the law. In this view, justice is fair, neutral, and free from outside influence.
Interpretation 2:
This one takes a more cynical view. When people say "justice is blind," they may be pointing out how bias and inequality still exist in the real world, especially within legal systems of government or organizations. Not everyone is treated equally, and justice often turns a blind eye to unfairness, corruption, or privilege.
This interpretation basically calls for attention and awareness of what justice should be; a system that treats everyone fairly and equally, regardless of status or identity, and is free from corruption.
What Interpretation is Correct?
The first interpretation, emphasizes the idea that all people are equal under the law. Lady Justice doesn’t see race, gender, wealth, or status. She listens only to the facts, the arguments, and the law. In this interpretation, justice is fair, neutral, and free from bias. Ideally, this is how justice should work. But in reality, things are rarely this straightforward.
While the second one points out the existence of bias and inequality that still pervades the real world. Not everyone is treated equally, people are judged not solely by their actions, etc. This view highlights the uncomfortable truth that justice doesn’t always live up to its ideal, and the legal system can often fail to operate impartially.
So, what interpretation is most accurate?
The truth is, not everyone is treated equally in the justice system, or in any part of man’s world, for that matter. This can be due to their social standing, the people they know, their abundance of resources, and so on.
Bias and inequality still exist, many are judged not by what they’ve done, but by how they look, where they’re from, or how much they have. In other words, people judge a man's worth with what they can give to them. That’s the uncomfortable reality.
And because of this bias, unfair treatment continues to exist, not just in the justice system, but throughout society. It affects how people are judged, how opportunities are given, and even how laws are enforced.
So second interpretation makes the most sense right?
Well, maybe. Another thing to consider is the possibility that the design of Lady Justice herself may actually be a way to communicate to the people that, within the court, everything will be unbiased, everyone will be treated as equals, and the outcome of the ruling will be based solely on the facts.
Basically, a promise that the court will be fair and impartial.
CONCLUSION
When we take a step back, Interpretation #2 does seem to make the most sense, especially when we look at the real world. Bias, inequality, and unfair treatment are all around us, and they continue to affect how people are treated in the justice system and in society at large. It’s the uncomfortable reality that many face every day, and it’s something that seems unlikely to change overnight.
However, Interpretation #1 still holds value, especially in terms of the ideal we strive for. While we acknowledge that the system isn’t perfect, the ideal of a blindfolded Lady Justice serves as a constant reminder of what justice should look like, fair, impartial, and free from any form of bias. The legal system, at its best, should be based on the facts, not on who you are or where you come from. It's important to remember that this ideal is not entirely out of reach. We may not live in a perfect world, but the existence of this ideal pushes us to keep improving and striving for a more just system.
Copyright ©2025 by Marshall Vulta
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