Justice vs. Mercy

September 20, 2007

A homeless mother of four children has no way of feeding them. She has asked for help, but without avail, she is left in the wild to care for her children alone without money, food, or shelter. She fears for her children’s health and would never eat out of a garbage can, but she has no other choice — until — she sees the opportunity to take some food from a rich family that lives close by. She does the crime, to save herself and her children. In the process, she accidentally breaks some very valuable kitchenware.

The women is caught by the police. If you were the judge, would you prosecute this woman for her criminal behavior? Would you let her go, because she had no other choice?

This is only an example where Justice and Mercy clash. What do you have to say about this? What should be done?

Posted in Philosophy