Monkeys, like many other animals, exhibit some behaviors that may be interpreted as a form of justice, but it's essential to understand that their sense of justice is not as complex or sophisticated as in humans.
Studies and observations of various monkey species, particularly primates like chimpanzees and capuchin monkeys, have shown evidence of behaviors that might be associated with a basic sense of fairness or justice. For example, in experiments where monkeys are trained to perform a task and rewarded with food, they have been observed to react negatively when they perceive unequal treatment.
In one well-known experiment, capuchin monkeys were given cucumber slices as a reward for performing a simple task. When one monkey received a grape instead of a cucumber (a more preferred food item), while the other received a cucumber, the monkey receiving the cucumber became visibly upset and refused to cooperate further. This reaction suggested a sense of inequity, as they recognized that they were not getting the same reward for the same effort.
However, it's important to note that this behavior does not necessarily indicate a complex sense of justice as humans understand it. In humans, justice involves a sophisticated understanding of morality, ethics, social norms, and the ability to deliberate and make decisions based on these principles.
Monkeys and other animals' behaviors are shaped by their evolutionary history and the need to navigate their social environments to ensure survival and reproductive success. While they may show some rudimentary forms of fairness or aversion to unequal treatment, it's not the same as the deep moral and ethical considerations that humans contemplate when discussing justice.
The human sense of justice is influenced by our cognitive abilities, complex societies, culture, and moral reasoning, which set us apart from other animals in this regard.