epieikeia

A sort of corrective to letter-of-the-law justice that's more of an art than a science.

a.k.a. ἐπιείκεια

Complementary virtues

But unlike clemency/mercy/indulgence/leniency epieikeia might go either way: being more gentle or more harsh

Contrasting vices

  • being inflexible
  • legalism

Virtues possibly in tension

How to acquire or strengthen it

TBD

Notes and links

Mentioned elsewhere

TBD

Inspirational quotes

  • Aristotle: “It is equity to pardon human failings, and to look to the [intentions of the] lawgiver and not to the law; to the spirit and not to the letter; to the intention and not to the action; to the whole and not to the part; to the character of the actor in the long run and not in the present moment; to remember the good rather than evil, and good that one has received, rather than good that one has done; to bear being injured; to wish to settle a matter by words rather than by deeds; lastly, to prefer arbitration to judgment, for the arbitrator sees what is equitable, but the judge only the law, and for this an arbitrator was first appointed, in order that equity might flourish.”