Forgiveness and Its Importance in Post-War Ethics

ABSTRACT

The casualties of war are numerous and widespread. Two types are most familiar to the general population of Americans: deaths and serious bodily injuries. However, there are other serious psychological effects of war, such as resentment, anger, and hatred that remain at the margins of the healthcare radar. Uncontrolled and unmanaged resentment, anger, and hatred can have destructive consequences for veterans and their families. One solution for overcoming and dealing with these vindictive passions is learning to forgive.

KEYWORDS:

• Forgiveness
• resentment
• passions
• charity

Notes

1. As of August 22, 2008, there are among United States forces 4,145 deaths and 30,561 wounded soldiers since the war began; for more statistical information on the war, see and Griffis (2008). Accessed August 22, 2008.

2. I am painting a dark picture, but I am interested only in the negative circumstances that can cause vindictive passions to arise in a soldier. The circumstances described are the kinds of situations that can cause of anger, resentment, and hatred.

3. The most obvious exception is Boleyn-Fitzgerald (2002), who claims that “As a virtue, forgiveness is [simply] the disposition to let go of anger” (p. 487).

4. Some have argued that forgiveness for Butler is the foreswearing of resentment (see Murphy and Hampton, 1988); Mercy and Holmgren,. Charles L. Griswold (2007) has recently pointed out that this interpretation of Butler is incorrect. He argues that for Butler forgiveness is the foreswearing of revenge (not resentment). I do not provide an analysis of this contention. I leave it up to the reader to examine the two views and to determine which interpretation is more correct. See Gladstone (1896, Sermons VIII and IX).