Has Justice been Served? (1/9)

Today I wanted to start a new Blog series about a topic I've been struggling with for a long time: 

Justice. 

Not the legal definition of Justice, but the emotional feeling of Justice. The feeling one gets when a wrong is righted, and a right is rewarded. The feeling that balance is restored, that homeostasis has returned.

To begin, I literally came up with every word I could think of that had anything to do with the concept/construct of Justice. It's a long one (79 words), and I'm almost certain that I've left quite a few of them out. Since Justice requires precision, and language is so imprecise, I've written the words in English, Chinese, and Korean, since some languages are better suited to tease out nuances that other languages can't.

- ה -

List of Normative Constructs

Accountability (責務 / 책무)

Atonement (贖罪 / 속죄)

Authority (權限 / 권한)

Belief (信念 / 신념)

Belonging (所屬 / 소속)

Cause (原因 / 원인)

Class (階級 / 계급)

Compassion (憐憫 / 연민)

Conscience (良心 / 양심)

Contract (契約 / 계약)

Custom (慣習 / 관습)

Desire (慾望 / 욕망)

Determination (決心 / 결심)

Dignity (尊嚴 / 존엄)

Duty (義務 / 의무)

Empathy (共感 / 공감)

Equality (公平 / 공평)

Equity (衡平 / 형평)

Face (體面 / 체면)

Fairness (公正 / 공정)

Forgiveness (容恕 / 용서)

Freedom (自由 / 자유; 자연으로부터 나온)

Goal (目標 / 목표)

Greed (慾心 / 욕심)

Guilt (罪責感 / 죄책감)

Honor (名譽 / 명예)

Identity (正體性 / 정체성)

Ideology (理念 / 이념)

Institution (制度 / 제도)

Integrity (高潔함 / 고결함)

Judge (判事 / 판사)

Jury (陪審員 / 배심원)

Justice (正義 / 정의)

Law (法 / 법)

Lawful (合法 / 합법)

Legitimacy (正當性 / 정당성)

Liberty (自由 / 자유; 법이나 체제로부터 나온)

Love (愛 / 사랑)

Loyalty (忠誠 / 충성)

Meaning (意味 / 의미)

Norm (規範 / 규범)

Obligation (義理 / 의리)

Permission (許容 / 허용)

Pledge (誓約 / 서약)

Power (權力 / 권력)

Principle (原則 / 원칙)

Prohibition (禁止 / 금지)

Promise (約束 / 약속)

Punishment (處罰 / 처벌)

Purpose (目的 / 목적)

Reason (理由 / 이유)

Reflection (反省 / 반성)

Regret (後悔 / 후회)

Regulation (規制 / 규제)

Remorse (懺悔 / 참회)

Responsibility (責任 / 책임)

Restriction (制限 / 제한)

Reward (報償 / 보상)

Right (權利 / 권리)

Ritual (儀禮 / 의례)

Role (役割 / 역할)

Rule (規則 / 규칙)

Rule of conduct (規律 / 규율)

Shame (羞恥 / 수치)

Sin (罪 / 죄)

Standard (標準 / 표준)

Standing (當事者 適格 / 당사자 적격)

Status (地位 / 지위)

Taboo (禁忌 / 금기)

Tradition (傳統 / 전통)

Trust (信賴 / 신뢰, 믿음)

Truth (眞實 / 진실)

Unlawful (不法 / 불법)

Value (價値 / 가치)

Virtue (德 / 덕)

Vow (盟誓 / 맹세)

Warrant (名分 / 명분)

Will (意志 / 의지)

Witness (證人 / 증인)

An incredibly long list of words, each deserving of its own book in order to even start explaining. They are no doubt some of the most complicated and debated concepts we humans have ever come up with. They are covered by some of the most specialized fields in academia and government: Jurisprudence, Ethics, Philosophy, Religion, Criminology, public policy etc.

So many concepts and constructs used to explain a very simple human feeling:

Was Justice served?

- ה -

Some Initial Observations:

1. I'm not entirely sure how, but it seems like some of these words naturally group together, or are nested within each other.
   
2. Each word seems to play a specific role in Justice, as to what those roles are, I'm not sure yet.
   
3. Some words seem sequential, some parallel, and some unrelated with each other.
   
4. Some words are conclusions, some are evidence related, some are authority related, and some are location related.
   
5. With the exception of one word, 사랑 (Love), all the Korean words have their exact counterparts in Chinese. Figuring out why is a whole story in itself.

What is exceedingly clear is that without breaking these words into some form of logical categorization, it's almost impossible to comprehend. Let's start by doing two things:

1. Break the Chinese into its character components (e.g., 신의 → 믿을신 뜻의)
   Similar to etymology in English, because Chinese words are symbolic, they have this almost magical tendency of holding onto the original philosophical concepts of the word.
   
   
2. Write a short description of each word in English

Reading them this way is fascinating—you can immediately see how the poetic, literal root of the Chinese characters perfectly aligns with the behavioral function of the word.

Accountability (責務 / 책무): 꾸짖을 책 (責), 힘쓸 무 (務) — The obligation to accept responsibility for one's actions and their consequences. It is the social mechanism that ensures individuals answer to a higher authority or community.

Atonement (贖罪 / 속죄): 속바칠 속 (贖), 허물 죄 (罪) — The active process of making amends or reparation for a wrong or injury. It is the effort to repair trust and restore equilibrium after a violation.

Authority (權限 / 권한): 권세 권 (權), 한할 한 (限) — The recognized and legitimate power to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. It is the permission granted by a system to govern or judge others.

Belief (信念 / 신념): 믿을 신 (信), 생각 념 (念) — An acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists, often forming the foundation of personal or cultural values. It dictates how an individual perceives reality and morality without requiring absolute proof.

Belonging (所屬 / 소속): 바 소 (所), 무리 속 (屬) — The emotional and social need to be an accepted member of a group. It acts as a primary motivator for adhering to shared customs and rules.

Cause (原因 / 원인): 근원 원 (原), 인할 인 (因) — A person, thing, or event that directly gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition. It is the catalyst that sets a chain of consequences into motion.

Class (階級 / 계급): 섬돌 계 (階), 등급 급 (級) — A system of ordering society whereby people are divided into sets based on social, economic, or historical status. It defines the hierarchical layers that often dictate how power and privilege are distributed.

Compassion (憐憫 / 연민): 불쌍히 여길 연 (憐), 불쌍히 여길 민 (憫) — A sympathetic pity and active concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. It is the emotional catalyst that drives people to offer forgiveness or right a wrong.

Conscience (良心 / 양심): 어질 양 (良), 마음 심 (心) — An internal, psychological guide to the rightness or wrongness of one's own behavior. It acts as the personal judge and jury before society ever gets involved.

Contract (契約 / 계약): 맺을 계 (契), 맺을 약 (約) — A written or spoken agreement intended to be strictly enforceable by law. It formalizes a promise into a codified, external framework.

Custom (慣習 / 관습): 버릇 관 (慣), 익힐 습 (習) — A traditional and widely accepted way of behaving specific to a particular society, place, or time. It is an informal rule enforced by community expectation rather than legal punishment.

Desire (慾望 / 욕망): 욕심 욕 (慾), 바랄 망 (望) — A strong, innate feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen. It is often the raw, internal fuel that motivates an initial act.

Determination (決心 / 결심): 결단할 결 (決), 마음 심 (心) — Firmness of purpose and the resoluteness to achieve a goal despite obstacles. It is the sustained willpower required to see an action or repair through to the end.

Dignity (尊嚴 / 존엄): 높을 존 (尊), 엄할 엄 (嚴) — The state or quality of being worthy of honor and respect. It is the inherent baseline of human value that justice ultimately seeks to protect.

Duty (義務 / 의무): 옳을 의 (義), 힘쓸 무 (務) — A moral or legal obligation that a person is expected to fulfill. It is a required action tied to one's role, identity, or agreements.

Empathy (共感 / 공감): 한가지 공 (共), 느낄 감 (感) — The psychological ability to understand, share, and mirror the feelings of another. It bridges the gap between individuals, making fairness and compassion possible.

Equality (公平 / 공평): 공평할 공 (公), 평평할 평 (平) — The state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities. It ensures that the exact same rule or standard is applied to everyone uniformly.

Equity (衡平 / 형평): 저울대 형 (衡), 평평할 평 (平) — The quality of being fair and impartial by adjusting for varying circumstances. Unlike equality, it focuses on modifying the rules to ensure a fair and just outcome.

Face (體面 / 체면): 몸 체 (體), 낯 면 (面) — One's reputation, prestige, or dignity within a social context and the eyes of others. It is the social currency that is lost through shame and restored through honorable actions.

Fairness (公正 / 공정): 공평할 공 (公), 바를 정 (正) — Impartial and just treatment or behavior without favoritism or discrimination. It is the operational ideal used to measure whether a judgement or outcome is valid.

Forgiveness (容恕 / 용서): 용납할 용 (容), 용서할 서 (恕) — The action or process of intentionally pardoning someone for a wrong or injury. It is the final acceptance of a repair that allows a transgressor to re-enter society.

Freedom (自由 / 자유; 자연으로부터 나온): 스스로 자 (自), 말미암을 유 (由) — The natural, unbridled ability to act, speak, or think without restraint. It exists as an inherent state of nature before social contracts or laws are applied.

Goal (目標 / 목표): 눈 목 (目), 표적 표 (標) — A specific, measurable objective that a person or system is actively trying to achieve. It provides the direction for will and determination.

Greed (慾心 / 욕심): 욕심 욕 (慾), 마음 심 (心) — An intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or status. It is a corrupted motivator that often leads to actions violating social boundaries.

Guilt (罪責感 / 죄책감): 허물 죄 (罪), 꾸짖을 책 (責), 느낄 감 (感) — The internal emotional pain or state of having committed an offense and violated one's own conscience. It is the mind's automatic punishment for breaking a moral code.

Honor (名譽 / 명예): 이름 명 (名), 기릴 예 (譽) — High respect, great esteem, or a person's adherence to what is morally right. It is the social reward for maintaining integrity and fulfilling duties.

Identity (正體性 / 정체성): 바를 정 (正), 몸 체 (體), 성품 성 (性) — The core characteristics, beliefs, and affiliations that define who a person is. It dictates the roles they play and the specific norms they are expected to follow.

Ideology (理念 / 이념): 이치 이 (理), 생각 념 (念) — A system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory. It provides the overarching framework a society uses to define justice.

Institution (制度 / 제도): 절제할 제 (制), 법도 도 (度) — An established law, practice, or organization founded for a social, formal, or structural purpose. It is the vessel through which a society executes authority and maintains order.

Integrity (高潔함 / 고결함): 높을 고 (高), 깨끗할 결 (潔) (+ 함) — The quality of being structurally whole, honest, and having uncompromising moral principles. It means a person's actions align perfectly with their stated values and conscience.

Judge (判事 / 판사): 판가름할 판 (判), 일 사 (事) — An official or entity appointed to decide cases, evaluate evidence, and apply frameworks. They act as the central arbiter in closing the gap between an act and its consequence.

Jury (陪審員 / 배심원): 모실 배 (陪), 살필 심 (審), 인원 원 (員) — A body of people sworn to give a collective verdict based on submitted evidence. They represent the community's voice in determining the verifiable truth of an event.

Justice (正義 / 정의): 바를 정 (正), 옳을 의 (義) — The ultimate ideal of administering fairness, rights, and moral correctness. It is the feeling of equilibrium achieved when a wrong is righted and a right is rewarded.

Law (法 / 법): 법 법 (法) — A codified system of rules created and enforced through social or governmental institutions. It provides the rigid, external boundaries that govern human behavior.

Lawful (合法 / 합법): 합할 합 (合), 법 법 (法) — Conforming to, permitted by, or recognized by established law or rules. It is the state of existing within the sanctioned boundaries of a formal system.

Legitimacy (正當性 / 정당성): 바를 정 (正), 마땅 당 (當), 성품 성 (性) — The accepted right of an authority, rule, or institution to exist and govern. Without it, power is viewed as tyranny and judgments are rejected by the public.

Liberty (自由 / 자유; 법이나 체제로부터 나온): 스스로 자 (自), 말미암을 유 (由) — The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority. It is freedom that has been negotiated and protected by a legal or social framework.

Love (愛 / 사랑): 사랑 애 (愛) — An intense feeling of deep affection, attachment, and unconditional care. It is a primal, uncodifiable human force that often drives both profound sacrifice and irrational action.

Loyalty (忠誠 / 충성): 충성 충 (忠), 정성 성 (誠) — A strong feeling of support, duty, or hierarchical allegiance to a person, group, or cause. It binds individuals together and ensures adherence to shared goals.

Meaning (意味 / 의미): 뜻 의 (意), 맛 미 (味) — The significance, intended message, or underlying truth of a concept or action. It is what individuals search for to make sense of events and frameworks.

Norm (規範 / 규범): 법 규 (規), 법 범 (範) — Something that is usual, typical, or expected as standard behavior in a society. It creates the invisible baseline of how people interact day-to-day.

Obligation (義理 / 의리): 옳을 의 (義), 이치 이 (理) — A tacit, horizontally-binding relational duty built on shared history or righteous loyalty. It is an unwritten expectation to support someone because of a preexisting bond.

Permission (許容 / 허용): 허락할 허 (許), 용납할 용 (容) — Consent or authorization to do something that would otherwise be restricted. It is the temporary lifting of a prohibition by an authority.

Pledge (誓約 / 서약): 맹세할 서 (誓), 맺을 약 (約) — A solemn, formal, and often public promise or undertaking. It binds a person's honor to a specific future action or allegiance.

Power (權力 / 권력): 권세 권 (權), 힘 력 (力) — The raw capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events. It is the force required to execute a judgement or outcome.

Principle (原則 / 원칙): 근원 원 (原), 법칙 칙 (則) — A fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior. It acts as the unshakeable rule by which an individual or system operates.

Prohibition (禁止 / 금지): 금할 금 (禁), 그칠 지 (止) — The formal action of forbidding something completely, especially by law. It creates a hard boundary that, if crossed, triggers the justice system.

Promise (約束 / 약속): 맺을 약 (約), 묶을 속 (束) — A declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified. It creates a micro-contract based entirely on interpersonal trust.

Punishment (處罰 / 처벌): 처할 처 (處), 벌할 벌 (罰) — The infliction or imposition of a penalty as retribution for an offense or rule violation. It is the negative outcome designed to restore balance and deter future acts.

Purpose (目的 / 목적): 눈 목 (目), 과녁 적 (的) — The overarching reason for which something is done, created, or exists. It provides the ultimate "why" behind any human action or institutional design.

Reason (理由 / 이유): 이치 이 (理), 말미암을 유 (由) — A logical explanation or justification for an action, event, or belief. It is the cognitive process used to evaluate evidence and arrive at a fair judgement.

Reflection (反省 / 반성): 돌이킬 반 (反), 살필 성 (省) — Serious thought, introspection, or consideration looking back on one's own actions. It is the necessary internal step before genuine remorse can occur.

Regret (後悔 / 후회): 뒤 후 (後), 뉘우칠 회 (悔) — A general feeling of sadness or disappointment over something that has happened or been done. Unlike remorse, it does not strictly require a moral violation, only a desire for a different outcome.

Regulation (規制 / 규제): 법 규 (規), 절제할 제 (制) — A rule or directive made and maintained by an authority to control behavior or processes. It is a highly specific, operational mechanism used to maintain order.

Remorse (懺悔 / 참회): 뉘우칠 참 (懺), 뉘우칠 회 (悔) — Deep, moral regret or spiritual penitence for a wrong committed. It is the painful realization of having caused harm, driving the need for atonement.

Responsibility (責任 / 책임): 꾸짖을 책 (責), 맡길 임 (任) — The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or having control over someone. It is the burden of owning the consequences of an act.

Restriction (制限 / 제한): 절제할 제 (制), 한할 한 (限) — A limiting condition or measure, especially a legal or formal one. It dictates what cannot be done in order to protect the liberties of others.

Reward (報償 / 보상): 갚을 보 (報), 갚을 상 (償) — A thing given in recognition of one's service, effort, compliance, or achievement. It is the positive outcome designed to reinforce beneficial behavior.

Right (權利 / 권리): 권세 권 (權), 이로울 리 (利) — A moral or legal entitlement to have or obtain something or to act in a certain way. It is the protected claim an individual holds against the state or society.

Ritual (儀禮 / 의례): 거동 의 (儀), 예도 례 (禮) — A solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order. It formalizes transitions, repairs, or beliefs into a shared physical experience.

Role (役割 / 역할): 부릴 역 (役), 나눌 할 (割) — The specific function assumed or part played by a person or thing in a particular social situation. It defines the expectations and duties assigned to an individual at any given time.

Rule (規則 / 규칙): 법 규 (規), 법칙 칙 (則) — An explicit or understood regulation governing conduct within a specific system or game. It is the basic unit of order that allows for predictable interaction.

Rule of conduct (規律 / 규율): 법 규 (規), 법률 률 (律) — A prescribed guide for personal or group behavior and action. It bridges the gap between formal laws and informal social norms.

Shame (羞恥 / 수치): 부끄러울 수 (羞), 부끄러울 치 (恥) — A painful feeling of humiliation caused by the social exposure of wrong or foolish behavior. It is the external, community-driven punishment for violating a standard.

Sin (罪 / 죄): 허물 죄 (罪) — An immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law or ultimate moral codes. It represents a violation that goes beyond standard legality into profound spiritual or moral failure.

Standard (標準 / 표준): 표적 표 (標), 준할 준 (準) — A level of quality or attainment used as a measure or model in comparative evaluations. It provides the benchmark against which actions and outcomes are judged.

Standing (當事者 適格 / 당사자 적격): 마땅 당 (當), 일 사 (事), 놈 자 (者), 맞을 적 (適), 격식 격 (格) — The legally or socially recognized right to initiate a dispute, participate in a judgement, or claim an injury. It ensures that only those with a legitimate connection to an act can demand justice for it.

Status (地位 / 지위): 땅 지 (地), 자리 위 (位) — The relative social, professional, or formal standing of someone or something. It often dictates the level of authority or deference an individual commands in a system.

Taboo (禁忌 / 금기): 금할 금 (禁), 꺼릴 기 (忌) — A social or religious custom forbidding discussion of a practice or association with a thing. It is a cultural boundary so deeply ingrained that violating it causes immediate visceral rejection.

Tradition (傳統 / 전통): 전할 전 (傳), 거느릴 통 (統) — The transmission of customs, beliefs, or practices from generation to generation. It provides societal continuity and anchors the moral frameworks of the present to the past.

Trust (信賴 / 신뢰, 믿음): 믿을 신 (信), 의지할 뢰 (賴) — Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. It is the invisible currency required for any institution, contract, or relationship to function.

Truth (眞實 / 진실): 참 진 (眞), 열매 실 (實) — That which is in absolute accordance with fact or reality. It is the epistemological baseline that all judgments attempt to uncover and align with.

Unlawful (不法 / 불법): 아닐 불 (不), 법 법 (法) — Not conforming to, permitted by, or recognized by law or rules. It is the objective state of having breached a codified system.

Value (價値 / 가치): 값 가 (價), 값 치 (値) — The regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something. It is the metric by which individuals and societies prioritize their rules and goals.

Virtue (德 / 덕): 덕 덕 (德) — Behavior showing high moral standards or a trait deemed to be morally excellent. It is the embodiment of good principles within a person's character.

Vow (盟誓 / 맹세): 맹세할 맹 (盟), 맹세할 서 (誓) — A solemn promise, often invoking a divine, higher power, or deep personal honor. It is the most severe and unbreakable form of personal commitment.

Warrant (名分 / 명분): 이름 명 (名), 나눌 분 (分) — The specific contextual justification or factual basis that permits the exercise of power. It is the necessary bridge that connects a general Authority to a particular Act, ensuring the action is valid under the specific circumstances.

Will (意志 / 의지): 뜻 의 (意), 뜻 지 (志) — The cognitive faculty by which a person decides on and initiates a deliberate action. It is the internal executor that translates desire into physical reality.

Witness (證人 / 증인): 증거 증 (證), 사람 인 (人) — A person who sees an event take place and can provide an objective account of it. They serve as the critical bridge between the actual event and the institution trying to judge it.

- ה -

Slightly better. Now we have a clear understanding of what each word means. By looking at the individual breakdown of the Chinese words, it provides us a glimpse of the philosophical roots of the underlying construct.

For example:

Authority (權限 / 권한): 권세 권 (權), 한할 한 (限)

> Power + To stop

Institution (制度 / 제도): 절제할 제 (制), 법도 도 (度)

> To constrain + Law

Role (役割 / 역할): 부릴 역 (役), 나눌 할 (割)

> To order + To share

Status (地位 / 지위): 땅 지 (地), 자리 위 (位)

> Land + Your place

Unlawful (不法 / 불법): 아닐 불 (不), 법 법 (法)

> Not + Law

We could go further by looking at the etymology of each Chinese character, but that would take considerable effort, and I'm not 100% convinced that would lead us to a better understanding of what the feeling of Justice is.

But at the very least, these 79 words seem to play different roles within this larger construct of Justice: 

• Some seem to define the act (lawful, unlawful),
• Some seem to define the actor, the committer of the act,
• Some seem to define the recipient, the receiver of the act,
• Some seem to define veracity of the act (witness, evidence),
• Some seem to define intent and motivation (desire, purpose), 
• Some seem to define role and authority, 
• Some seem to define a judgement (guilt, innocence), 
• Some seem to define judges; internal and external (conscience, legal), 
• Some seem to define warrant and legitimacy (standing), 
• Some seem to define the source of authority (law, tradition).

In the next post (2/9), I plan to reverse the direction of this analysis and think through a logical model. If this post was bottom up, the next post will be top down. Perhaps the combination of these two methods would lead to a better understanding of what Justice means.

- ה -

end of post 1/9

- ה -