Blindfolded but blind? Reading Justitia

Justitia, commonly known as "Lady Justice", is the most comprehensive metaphorical representation of justice. Justitia's genealogy is based on Ancient Greek mythology. Lady Justice is actually derived from the figures of Themis and her daughter Dike in Ancient Greek mythology. Themis is the goddess of universal order and divine law; Dike represents justice in the human world. In Roman mythology, these two figures have merged into a single symbol called Justitia. Today, Justitia has become a symbol referring to the legal system as a figure decorating courtrooms and public spaces. The icon is usually depicted with micro elements such as blindfolds, scales and swords. Academics, judges and lawyers often use this popular symbol to express the state of justice in an emotional and impressive way, whether in books or court decisions. The blindfold, which is identified with the statue, symbolizes objectivity and stoic impartiality. Libra; It represents empiricism and the measurability specific to the Enlightenment. The sword, on the other hand, indicates sanction power and moderation. These ideals can be represented in different ways with different combinations of the symbols that make up Justitia. For example, some critics, with depictions of Justitia with her blindfold off, express that justice should be supported not only by stoic impartiality but also by other intuitive or human ways of making decisions. Through metonymic symbols, we can interpret more precisely the multi-layered meanings of a structure that seems like a single metaphor from a rhetorical perspective. With this approach, the polysemy is deepened and the door is opened to various understandings of what justice is.

IS SELECTIVE BLINDNESS HIDDEN BEHIND THE BLINDCOVER? Today, legal systems are being questioned again precisely through these symbols: Is Justitia truly impartial, or is there selective blindness hidden behind the blindfold? As Judith Resnik and Dennis Curtis from Yale University state, Justitia has entered the modern legal scene less as a goddess and more as a "secularized representation of ancient virtues." However, this secularity sometimes overshadows the ethical aspect of justice with political interests. American rhetorical theorists Olson & Olson define the elements carried by Justitia as "metonymic symbols": The blindfold represents impartiality; the scales represent the empirical evidence system; and the sword represents both sanction and potential oppression. Although these symbols have separate meanings, they can contain contradictions when used together. Indeed, the question of "how a blind figure can weigh the evidence" has become one of the most fundamental dilemmas of today's legal systems. According to Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor, the meaning of a blindfold is not only impartiality, but also an ideal of cold rationality, free from emotion and subjectivity. However, should justice be the product of reason alone, or should conscience also be included in the process? The decisions made in high-profile cases in many countries such as the USA, France and Brazil have caused these symbols to be questioned in the public conscience. At this point, the difference between symbolic justice and justice in practice is growing. AN OUTDATED RHETORIC? This Justitia figure, representing impartiality, moderation and legal sanction, is still idealized in many legal systems today. So is Justitia still an ideal goal, or is she now just rhetorical? How much can justice systems carry the meanings attributed to this symbol? While high court decisions in countries such as the US, Germany and Brazil are increasingly exposed to the questioning gaze of the public, the question of "Does Justitia's blindfold mean impartiality or strategic blindness?" is on the agenda again. Harvard University law professor Martha Minow says that modern legal systems are often "smothered in legal formalities" and that justice is "present in appearance but lacking in practice." While each of the symbols Justitia carries (scales, sword, blindfold) points to different legal ideals, the fact that these ideals are increasingly turning into rhetorical decor is damaging the internal consistency of legal systems. Academician Judith Resnik states that the Justitia figure has now become a "decorative element" not only of the courts, but also of the media and politics. JUSTITIA'S INNER PARADOX The conflicts of meaning between metonymic symbols reveal the multi-layered nature of justice. A blind figure weighing evidence or carrying both punishment (sword) and balance (scales) in both hands drags Justitia into an internal paradox. These conflicts also show that the narrative of justice should be frequently questioned not only with symbols but also with their interaction. Justitia is no longer just a symbol of justice, but questions that must be asked in the name of justice: Have the meanings she carries become unbearable burdens? In Resnik's words: "Justitia may be standing high on the court walls, but the real issue is not how high she stands off the ground, but how far away from society she remains."