Justice: is it Fair?

The colleague’s fat raise, the third speeding ticket in a month: where does justice begin and where does it end?

What is justice?

“This is unfair,” Lisa complains. Arm on hips, the seven-year-old builds herself up in front of her mother. “I’m a year older than Jonas and I always have to go to bed at the same time!” she grumbles. “We’ve been through this already,” Lisa’s mother replies, annoyed. “Even though you’re older, you both still need just as much sleep.” On this topic, she treats both offspring the same, which Lisa feels is a blatant injustice. Who’s right? And what is justice anyway?

Countless scholars have grappled with this question – from theologians and sociologists to politicians. None has found a clear answer. Because there is no such thing, not even one true justice. Nevertheless, psychologist Juliane Kärcher, for example, knows: “Justice is a profound human need and a central value that guides many people’s actions.”

Injustice makes people sick

Finnish scientists have found that when people feel they have been treated unfairly, they even suffer physically: The risk of heart attack increases. “All social discussions are basically about justice,” explains Dr. Rainer Erlinger, a physician, lawyer and Germany’s “pope of conscience.” That starts with the recognition of same-sex marriage and extends to the level of child benefits.

Matter of opinion

Even in normal everyday life, away from political events, views often diverge widely on what is fair and what is not. For example, is it fair if the nestling child in the family gets more gifts for her birthday than the older children? Should the husband still help out around the house after his job, even though he’s already put in at least eight hours of work? Is it fair if the well-heeled manager now also wins the lottery?

Justice has many facets, and is interpreted very differently depending on culture and era. What is perceived as fair here and now may be unjust tomorrow or elsewhere – it all depends on the perspective. The wife takes revenge for her husband’s infidelity by carting his beloved motorcycle to the scrap dealer. From her point of view a just punishment, from his certainly not.

And children usually think it’s just mean not to get pocket money for a bad grade in math. If justice is so complex, how can a person avoid being unfair to his partner, family, friends or colleagues?

For most, it’s about making sure things are distributed fairly. Who should get how much money, time or attention, so that in the end no one is disadvantaged?

Psychology offers some guidance, distinguishing between the equality principle, the needs principle and the contribution principle:

  • The equality principle is guided by the motto “to each the same.” In a class, all students pore over the same test questions. And in a partnership, everyone gets a birthday gift from the other or both agree to do without presents.
  • The needs principle focuses on the different needs of each individual. This is how family life usually works. So a baby gets more attention than a teenager. And if two out of ten employees do not get along with the new software, these two may or must go to training – their colleagues do not.
  • The contribution principle takes into account the performance of each individual. If one has worked alone on a project, it is unfair if the colleagues also take credit for it. And if the mother-in-law every Saturday tends to the grandchildren, she deserves a greater gift than the father-in-law, who rarely feels like it.