Compassion is no substitute for justice?
The recent debate about a certain quote, also the question of this debate, evidenced to myself that there is a pure, unadulterated misunderstanding of justice among the participants of CD.
In essence, I am reintroducing the question for debate. However, this time (unlike the original) I will participate and will actively moderate the debate.
People who are ignorant of justice and its causes and consequences cannot identify the causes and consequences of injustice. And all who are ignorant of the same will become the prey of criminals.
Objective: an introduction to justice.
The tags are representing the debaters position of justice, i.e. I understand justice or I don't understand justice.
(Some debates require more than two tags.) Another fallacy of argument!
I don't understand
Side Score: 3
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I understand
Side Score: 2
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2
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Unless I'm mistaken, the lion's share of the responses to that debate were in agreement with the quote. "Compassion is no substitute for justice" is as straightforward as "Justice is no substitute for compassion". Neither virtue is absolute, but I suppose both statements are equally true. Similarly, you've also got to be wary of turning the argument into (or interpreting the argument as....) "Justice and compassion are mutually exclusive". As to its application to what one "understands" about justice, I'm not sure I see what you're getting at... Side: I don't understand
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I think I get what you are saying. Are you saying that pure compassion will lead to anarchy by criminals and pure justice will lead to basically fascism? And that society cannot exist without both? In terms of the justification of justice, in order to maintain an ordered society, humans(and other animals) have evolved societal moral codes that call for punishment or isolation of individuals who violate the acceptable societal code. Side: I understand
The execution of justice is compassion for the victim. That is the conclusive result of the efforts of justice, which coincidently, is also the cause for justice. The debate I'm referring to was a debate that ignored the victim of a crime. Most of the participants focused on the punishment of the criminal apart from considering the compassion for the victim. Lastly, compassion is not a means of justice, it is a consequence of justice. Side: moderator
Yes, Justice and Compassion both exist and are both good, but they cannot rob one another. You can have compassion for somebody by helping them choose to do the right thing. You can be a good example for somebody and be their friend so they don't end up getting into trouble and landing in jail. I'm not sure what you meant by "pure justice", but the law is the law and has no substitute. Side: Compassion Is No Substitute For Justice
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