In Defence of the Self-Respecting Nature of Unconditional Forgiveness
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One of the most potentially damaging claims made by philosophers against unconditional forgiveness is that, in some cases, the victim is disrespecting herself by imparting forgiveness to her offender. When an offender is unrepentant or when the offense is significant given the particular relationship, then, it is claimed, a victim’s self-respect might be threatened or further damaged as she offers forgiveness. This is also thought to be true when the wrongdoing is perpetual and relentless or when the offense contributes to the subjugation and oppression of a disadvantaged group (especially a group of which she is a part). While self-respect is one of the most important values discussed in contemporary philosophy, its supposed instances of incompatibility with unconditional forgiveness are dubious. This chapter will attempt to lend some support to the idea that it is self-respecting to always and unconditionally forgive, at least when unconditionally forgiving is part of one’s conception of the moral life. This will be done by maintaining the importance of some of the usual definitional restrictions of the term, ‘forgiveness,’ and by discussing the implications forgiveness and unforgiveness have on the self-respect of a victim who many scholars are likely to say should not forgive.