The Thomistic Institute Is it Wrong to Want the Bad Guy to Suffer? A Christian Approach to Vengeance | Sr. Elinor Gardner, O.P.
Nov 4, 2024
Sister Elinor Gardner, O.P., an expert in Aquinas' ethical and political philosophy, dives into the moral complexities of vengeance from a Christian perspective. She challenges the notion that justice requires punishment, emphasizing the transformative power of forgiveness. Delving into Augustine's views, she discusses the importance of distinguishing between justice and vindictiveness. The conversation highlights how true love may involve desiring consequences for our loved ones’ actions, intertwining suffering, justice, and compassion.
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Socrates on Harming Enemies
- In Plato's Gorgias, Socrates argues against Paulus' belief that harming enemies is desirable.
- Socrates claims no sane person wants to harm others for its own sake, but only if beneficial.
Socrates' Radical View
- Socrates' rejection of retaliation was radical in ancient Greece, where harming enemies was glorified.
- Salon and Medea exemplify the traditional Greek view of being "bitter to enemies."
Therapeutic Punishment
- Socrates views punishment as therapeutic, aiming to heal the wrongdoer or community, not inflict harm.
- He believes it's worse for a wrongdoer to escape punishment than to receive it.