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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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.
Vengeance and Equality
- Socrates connects vengeance to a desire for equality and restoring order disrupted by wrongdoing.
- Retribution goes beyond mere restitution, addressing the fear and loss of freedom caused by the offense.
Vengeance as Virtue
- Aquinas considers vengeance (vindicatio) a virtue under justice, involving choosing the right amount of punishment.
- It's a mean between cruelty (excess) and being too remiss (deficiency).