Jealousy: The Hidden Force Behind Our Perceptions of Justice

Throughout history and across cultures, including places like Japan, Taiwan, and beyond, there's an underlying truth — much of what we see as moral righteousness is significantly driven by jealousy. For example, imagine a highly successful entrepreneur whose achievements evoke envy in rivals. While society praises ambition, underlying envy silently fuels resistance and accusations of unfairness. Similarly, in classrooms, a student who excels effortlessly may be admired or envied—often, both at once. This emotional cocktail influences laws and societal norms more than we admit, making justice a tangled web where personal insecurities and collective envy pull the strings. These feelings wield power in subtle, yet profound, ways, shaping judgments and policies that define how we perceive what’s right or wrong, fair or unfair.

Justice as a Discreet, Silent Garment—Not Meant for Show

Legal Boundaries and the Complex Human Emotions That Evade Them

While laws are crafted to regulate behavior, they often stumble when confronting the deep-rooted feelings that motivate human actions—especially envy and jealousy that lurk beneath the surface. Take, for example, corporate fraud or corruption—these acts are frequently driven not just by greed but by a sense of resentment towards those perceived to have more. Laws can punish overt actions like embezzlement or insider trading, but they struggle to address the emotional undercurrents fueling such misconduct. In Taiwan, for instance, debates about wealth inequality and the protection of the rich highlight how legal frameworks often favor the powerful, indirectly shielding the envy and resentment that motivate many illegal activities. This disconnect exposes a fundamental truth: our legal system, while essential, can only do so much—human feelings are far too intricate, unpredictable, and deeply embedded in societal fabric to be fully controlled or legislated. As a result, authentic justice remains an elusive goal, constantly challenged by the messy complexity of human emotion.

Society’s Internal Fear and the Reluctance to Pursue Genuine Justice

Perhaps the most profound obstacle to achieving real justice is society’s latent fear of upheaval—fear of uncovering truths that might ignite envy, shame, or social unrest. For example, in Taiwan and many societies worldwide, exposing corruption or inequality risks provoking resentment among those in power, leading to social instability. This collective reluctance isn’t simply about politeness; it’s an unconscious defense mechanism aimed at preserving social cohesion—however fragile—that is built upon unspoken envy and hierarchical inequality. When justice threatens to dismantle this delicate balance, society often defaults to superficial fixes, clinging to a comforting veneer of fairness rather than confronting uncomfortable realities. Ultimately, this fear acts as a barrier, keeping true justice at bay—hidden behind layers of social masking, fear, and unspoken envy, preventing society from achieving genuine fairness and equality. It’s a sobering reminder that pursuing real justice requires courage—courage that many are hesitant to summon.