Justice Vs Mercy

Hm...implying one can't be merciful in justice? Locked up but alive vs. the death penalty, for instance.

I think 'mercy' as best understood as 'justice tempered with understanding' - understanding mitigating circumstances, etc. As Ned suggests, it used to mean 'sparing someone's life' rather than 'letting someone get away scot free' i.e. it was merciful to enslave the male population of a captured town, rather than to kill them!

I think the question should be rephrased. The subject is not really justice vs. mercy, but rather justice vs. revenge. Then again, all this stuff is about morality, and i am fundamentally amoral, so i should probably shut up now.

Mercy can be self-serving in the end. Should only be used as an adjunct of 'justice'.Be aware of one's own motivations.

Well the Court of Equity in Britain historically came about because there were many instances in which rigorous adherence to the letter of the law resulted in some pretty Draconian outcomes.

The law cannot possibly exist in a vacuum, otherwise you may as well replace Judges with computers. After all, if a system of law is simply a matter of words in books then why do we need people to adminster it?

So any legal system worth its salt needs a healthy dose of justice AND mercy in equal measure. A society that deals solely in retribution is barbaric, whereas one that pardons all wrongdoers is anarchic.