The Manifestation of Aristotle’s Concept of Epieikeia in Judicial Discretion
Advancing Substantive Justice Amid the Rigidity of Positive Law
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24252/al-risalah.vi.68161Keywords:
Epikeia, Diskresi Hakim, Keadilan SubstantifAbstract
This study examines the manifestation of Aristotle's concept of epikeia in the practice of judicial discretion in Indonesia as an effort to realize substantive justice amidst the dominance of positive law, which tends to be formalistic. The main problem of this research stems from the fact that the textual application of law often fails to address social complexity and has the potential to give rise to injustice. This study uses a normative juridical method with a contextual and philosophical approach through an analysis of doctrine, legislation, and Aristotle's thoughts on justice and epikeia. The results show that Aristotle's concept of justice focuses not only on legal certainty but also on proportionality, propriety, and social balance. In the context of Indonesian law, epikeia is relevant as an ethical basis for judges to progressively interpret legal norms in order to produce decisions that are more humane and responsive to the public's sense of justice. Epiceia-based judicial discretion can be a corrective instrument against the rigidity of positive law without ignoring the principle of legal certainty.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Yuwono Prianto, Surya Daniel Batara, Elsan Octavia Hakim, Alfin Prananda Widianto, Regista Cahya Siti Adiningsih, Much. Aris Rahman Hakim
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