Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Behrouz Asadi ¹
• mohammad karami ²

¹ Department of General Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

² Associate Professor, Department of General Studies, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract

Introduction

Forgiveness requires overcoming something within ourselves, overcoming an aspect of our natural reaction to the injustice that has been done to us. The usual and understandable reaction of victims to oppressors includes anger, hatred, disgust, contempt, malice and a range of negative emotions. Anger and resentment are difficult but important emotions to control, and forgiveness is the most obvious virtue that helps us control them. Victims who refuse to forgive their torturers and oppressors often face a double reaction from us. On the one hand, we give them the right to not forgive their torturers for their cruelty and aggression, but on the other hand, deep down, by looking critically at their actions, we would like them to overcome their bitter and tragic feelings and forgive the wrongdoers. The Gospel of Luke quotes Jesus as saying, "If your brother sins, blame him, and if he sins against you seven times a day and comes to you seven times and says, I repent, forgive him." (Luke,17:3-4) According to this verse and numerous other verses, the Gospels emphasize the unconditional forgiveness of sinners. (Graham, 2013:3-4) On the other hand, moderate advocates of forgiveness believe that the guilt and repentance of the wrong person should be a prerequisite for his forgiveness. In other words, as long as the offender does not feel guilty, he does not regret what he did, forgiving him is unwise and even dangerous. But in contrast to these two categories, some, like Friedrich Nietzsche, believe that forgiveness can seem like a result of weakness, lack of honor, and cowardice, because forgiveness tells us to respond to evil with good and to show goodness to those who have wronged us.
The main question of this study is how should we react to the mistakes of others? Is forgetting necessary for forgiveness, and in what cases, is it felt necessary? Is forgiveness a healing and an alternative to permanent hatred and disgust? And are there situations where refusal to forgive is not only permissible but necessary?

Literature Review

In an overview of the background of this issue in researches in Persian, in the article "The Virtue of Forgiveness from the Point of View of Supporters and Opponents", we see an examination of this concept from the point of view of morality, the sacred texts of the Abrahamic religions and the views of Islamic and Jewish-Christian commentators and thinkers. The research examines the concept of forgiveness first, then the conditions of forgiveness, and some of the reasons for forgiveness advocates, such as feeling strong and at peace of mind, as well as the reasons for opponents, such as destroying the victim's self-esteem through forgiveness. (Cavandi, 2021)

Methodology

This research is based on the study and philosophical analysis of books and articles published in Persian and English.

Discussion

One of the most famous reasons for proving the virtue of forgiveness, in addition to being a high-minded sign of generosity and kindness, is its healing and usefulness for both the giver and the recipient of forgiveness parties. The existence of some gospel verses that emphasize unconditional forgiveness is not ineffective in the design of Nietzsche's view that opposes forgiveness. Whereas, according to some other scriptures, as well as some advocates of forgiveness, revenge and forgiveness are alternatives to the choice of the victim, each of which is justified according to the circumstances. Nietzsche sees forgiveness as an expression of anguish and nursing anger for past injuries, and a cover for resentment and a desire for revenge. In his opinion, forgiveness means overcoming anger and suffering; it always requires ignoring the demand for the right from someone who has been hurt or insulted in some way. Such ignorance makes forgiveness unfair. So Nietzsche opposes any forgiveness in defense of Justice. He sees punishment and revenge as repaying debt. So in the eyes of the debtor and the creditor, punishment is a source of discharge from negative emotions and a source of Justice. Nietzsche recommends forgetting instead of forgiving. In his opinion, active forgetfulness causes someone who suffers not to forget, but to remember without resentment, because staying in the bitter experiences of the past will destroy the power, hope, passion, joy and pride, and someone who does not have the power of this deliberate forgetfulness cannot do anything.

Results

Nietzsche's mistake is that he insists on forgetfulness and revenge at the same time, and this portrays a kind of conceptual and behavioral contradiction, because a person seeking revenge has undoubtedly failed to try to forget, or he would have ignored revenge. It seems that Nietzsche is well aware that in any case - forgiveness or revenge - not forgetting and remembering oppression causes a negative feeling of resentment in the victim. Nietzsche's solution to revenge on the one hand, exacerbates violence and hatred in society and on the other hand, makes it difficult to correct the behavior of criminals because revenge has made criminals feel no regret for their actions and continue and justify their delinquency. Nietzsche also generalized the motivation of some people to forgive, which may be out of cowardice and fear of the consequences of revenge against the oppressors, to all humans and ignored any other motivation to forgive. Although in some people, forgiveness may be out of cowardice and a cover for hatred and a desire for revenge, its generalization to all humans shows the fallacy of "misplaced generalization" in Nietzsche's argument. Therefore, alternatives to revenge such as handing criminals over to the law, excusing and forgiving criminals - taking into account conditions such as regret and the attempt of perpetrator to compensate and correct behavior - violate Nietzsche's view.

Keywords

• Forgiveness
• Revenge
• Morality of Slaves
• Active Forgetfulness
• Justice

Main Subjects

• philosophy