ON JUSTICE VERSUS MERCY:

One of the "dilemma paradigms" we reviewed (at length) in training to become facilitators for an Ethics program was "justice versus mercy." That is, in any situation, is it more ethical to display mercy and kindness, or is it more ethical to display justice and fairness?

I have always been a "mercy" kind of person. For example, if I have a hearing with a student, and they cooperated with the reporting party and seem genuinely sorry, I will probably let them off with a warning. If, however, they were less than kind to the reporting party, I am more likely to find them responsible.

I don't know where this merciful streak comes from. Maybe it's a desire to be liked rather than respected. Maybe it's a naive optimism that people are genuinely good and can learn their lessons without harsh punishment (and I have found this is the case in about 70% of the situations). But giving someone a fairly harsh "mandatory minimum" sentence for a fairly minimal violation does not and will not suit me as a person.

This certainly bodes well for my future spoiled children, huh? Good thing they're still hypothetical at this point, I guess.