Getting Even - Forgiveness and its Limits

Abstract:     
This book - drawing from the resources of philosophy, law, psychology, religion, and literature - argues that vindictive emotions (anger, resentment, and the desire for revenge) deserve a more legitimate place in our moral, emotional, legal and even religious lives than we currently recognize and that forgiveness, though often a great virtue, deserves to be more cautiously and selectively granted. The book explores such diverse issues as the relation between criminal punishment and revenge, victim impact statements in criminal sentencing, the current trendy movement of forgiveness counseling in psychotherapy, self forgiveness, repentance, and the relationship between religious (particularly Christian) commitments to forgiveness and punishment - particularly capital punishment.

Note: This is a description of the book and not an actual excerpt.

Accepted Paper Series