Looking for a word that refers to:
The emphasis or observation of a rule (or law) to the letter, in a way that violates the spirit (or original good intention) of that rule (or law).
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this communityLooking for a word that refers to:
The emphasis or observation of a rule (or law) to the letter, in a way that violates the spirit (or original good intention) of that rule (or law).
"Pedantic?" "Pharasee?"(a member of an ancient Jewish sect, distinguished by strict observance of the traditional and written law)
In a bureaucracy, rules are so literally followed that often, the spirit in which the rule was made in the first place does not matter.
Collins:
bureaucracy noun [plural -cies]
4. any administration in which action is impeded by unnecessary official procedures and red tape
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © Harper Collins Publishers
Urban Dictionary:
2. A form of government, the authority of which is not so much to accomplish anything, but to obstruct accomplishment by anyone else.
Are you thinking to a blind application of law ?
For example:
the blind application of law can occasion injustices which are potentially greater than the crime being policed.
.
My point here is that the "law" has been changed in the past and the situation must be evaluated based upon it merits. Sadly, the blind application of law seems more important that looking at the merits.
gaming the system
Gaming the system means deliberately using Wikipedia policies and guidelines in bad faith to thwart the aims of Wikipedia. Gaming the system may represent an abuse of process, disruptive editing, or otherwise evading the spirit of community consensus. Editors typically game the system to make a point, to further an edit war, or to enforce a specific non-neutral point of view.
bad faith is a key component of gaming the system .. perhaps I should list it as a separate possibility/answer but bad faith applies in many situations beyond "letter of the law" issues. "following rules in bad faith" starts describing a situation when you're looking for a word for it.
There is the letter of the law and the spirit of the law.
If you violate the spirit of the law, you are not violating the letter of the law.
However, if you violate the letter of the law, its spirit is surely impugned as well.