The Three Great Disguises of Civilized Society#
Society is like a carefully designed stage, where everyone plays their own role. However, beneath this shiny exterior lies a more complex truth—morality, institutions, and emotions are essentially disguises for the operation of society. They maintain order while concealing the true logic of human nature.
1. Moral Disguise: The Calculation of Interests Beneath Noble Slogans#
Morality is hailed as the cornerstone of human civilization, teaching people to be good, just, and compassionate. However, in reality, morality is often not a pure belief but an optimal strategy in social games. People praise honesty not because honesty itself is sacred and inviolable, but because in a society that requires long-term cooperation, integrity can reduce transaction costs. Morality is revered not because it is absolutely correct, but because it allows groups to operate more efficiently.
The standards of morality are never fixed. The same behavior may be assigned completely opposite evaluations in different eras and cultures. The ancient "loyalty to the monarch" is seen as ignorance in modern times, while the past "chastity" is viewed today as oppression of women. The essence of morality is a consensus formed under specific social structures; its role is not to reveal the truth but to maintain order.
Morality often becomes a fig leaf for power. Throughout history, countless wars have been waged in the name of "justice," exploitation has been rationalized under the guise of "responsibility," and oppression has continued under the pretext of "protection." Those in power understand one principle well: to make people willingly obey, the best way is not through coercion but by making them believe it is a moral requirement. Thus, morality becomes a sophisticated tool of domination—it leads the governed to mistakenly believe that their obedience is noble rather than forced.
2. Institutional Disguise: The Power Game Under the Illusion of Equal Rules#
Modern society advocates the rule of law, believing that institutions are a guarantee of fairness. The design of any institution is essentially a reflection of power structures. Everyone is equal before the law, but those who make the laws are not; rules apply equally to all, but those who interpret the rules often stand in a higher position. Institutions are like a chess game; on the surface, everyone follows the same rules, but some can see the entire board while most can only see a few steps ahead.
The hypocrisy of institutions lies in their claim to uphold fairness while often solidifying vested interests. The education system proclaims "equal opportunity," but children from wealthy families always have more resources than the poor; the market economy boasts "free competition," but monopolistic capital has long set up insurmountable barriers; the judicial system emphasizes "fair trials," but those who can afford top lawyers naturally have better odds.
Institutions do not explicitly state these hidden rules, but they ensure that the game is always more favorable to certain people through complex procedures, high costs, and invisible thresholds. Ironically, when institutions cannot justify themselves, they do not admit their flaws but maintain authority through more complex explanations. Economists invent the theory of "trickle-down effect" for wealth disparity, politicians create rhetoric of "procedural justice" for inefficient bureaucracies, and managers use "structural optimization" to gloss over layoffs. The true function of institutions has never been to solve problems but to make problems appear reasonable.
3. Emotional Disguise: Rational Exchanges Beneath a Veil of Warmth#
Humans pride themselves on being emotional animals, believing that love, friendship, and compassion are pure existences that transcend utilitarianism. Sociological research has long revealed that emotional relationships also follow an implicit logic of exchange. Parents love their children partly due to the instinct of genetic continuation; mutual assistance among friends often carries the expectation of future reciprocity; loyalty between partners is often built on a foundation of shared interests. Emotions are not irrational; they are another form of rationality.
Modern society excels at packaging emotions. Businesses describe customer relationships as "family," companies use "team spirit" to mask exploitation, and politicians invoke "people's sentiments" to garner votes. These warm and fuzzy terms are essentially meant to make the exchange of interests seem less naked. When someone says, "I'm not doing this for money, but for emotions," you often need to be cautious—true emotions do not need declaration; excessive emphasis instead exposes the underlying calculations.
The most typical manifestation is the emotional performance on social media. People meticulously curate their lives, showcasing happiness, success, and positive energy, not to share but to gain social recognition. Likes, comments, and shares become a form of emotional currency, where people use false perfect images to exchange social capital in reality. In this process, genuine emotions have long been alienated into tools of performance.
Seeing Through the Disguises: The Survival Path of the Awakened#
Morality, institutions, and emotions certainly have their value, but only by seeing through the logic behind them can one avoid becoming a manipulated object. True wisdom lies in: adhering to morality without being bound by it; respecting institutions while knowing their limitations; experiencing emotions without being deluded by their purity.