Past Shows
Notes on show: Original Airdate 05/03/2005
| Topic: | Forgiveness |
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| Guest: |  Charles Griswold, Professor of Philosophy, Boston University |
| What is it? |
Justice is a virtue and so, many claim, is forgiveness. But they seem inconsistent. Is forgiveness really a virtue? Philosopher Charles Griswold discusses the South African reconciliation process, truly evil people, and the virtue of forgiveness. |
About the Guest
Charles Griswold is Professor of Philosophy at Boston University. He has also taught at the Sorbonne (Paris) and at Yale University. His areas of interest include Eighteenth-Century Philosophy, the Enlightenment, Social and Political Philosophy, and Ancient Philosophy.
During the 2004/05 academic year, he is a Fellow at the Stanford Humanities Center. He is currently at work on a book on forgivenes, sympathy, and perfectionism.
His publications include:
- Forgiveness: A Philosophical Exploration (Cambridge UP, 2007)
- Adam Smith and the Virtues of Enlightenment (Cambridge UP, 1999)
- Self-knowledge in Plato's Phaedrus (Yale UP 1986) (This book was awarded the Franklin J. Matchette Prize by the American Philosophical Association.)
- Platonic Writings, Platonic Readings (Routledge 1988)
He is also author of numerous articles on the history of philosophy and on political thought, including "Plato on Rhetoric and Poetry," Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2004 edition), and "The Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Washington Mall: Philosophical Thoughts on Political Iconography," originally published in Critical Inquiry 12 (1986): 688-719.
Learn more about Charles Griswold and his work at his website.
Listening Notes
What is forgiving? John thinks that it isn't the same as excusing someone. It is not condoning an action either. Ken says that it is only right to forgive someone if you hold them responsible and you are releasing them from something. Who is forgiveness good for? Lots of people think it is primarily beneficial for the forgiver. Ken introduces the guest, Charles Griswold, professor at Boston University.
John asks who is forgiveness for and what does it require. Griswold says that forgiveness has certain conditions. Griswold describes important parts of the process of forgiveness. Griswold's view requires the forgiven to repent. John says that there are other conceptions of forgiveness, and one is a view that forgiveness only involves the person doing the forgiving. Is it forgiveness when one party does not think anything wrong was done? Ken points out that forgiveness can't be demanded. Can forgiveness be required? What does forgiveness do for me? What does it do for interpersonal relationships? Griswold thinks it alleviates guilt for the forgiven and allows the forgiver to let go of moral hatred. Griswold emphasizes that it does not require for the parties involved to reconcile. Can you forgive yourself? Griswold thinks you can, but it is different from standard forgiveness between people.
Ken believes there are acts he could not forgive. Are there acts that are unforgivable? Objectively unforgivable? A caller suggests that some things are unforgivable for some people. What about forgiving moral monsters, such as Hitler? Griswold argues that the “moral monster” language hinders discussion. How are trust and understanding related to forgiveness?
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Amy Standen the Roving Philosophical Reporter (Seek to 04:45): Amy Standen interviews Katy Hutchison, a woman who met and forgave her husband's murderer. Hutchison's story can be found on her website, and at the Forgiveness Project, a UK organization which promotes forgiveness and conflict resolution worldwide. Hutchison is the author of Walking After Midnight, due out from Raincoast Publishing in Fall, 2006.
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There is no Ian Shoales piece in this episode.
Additional Resources
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Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy (subscription required)
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The Stanford Forgiveness Project, directed by Dr. Fred Luskin, who leads workshops in Forgiveness Training. Dr. Luskin is the author of Forgive For Good.
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Avishai Margalit's book The Ethics of Memory, which is discussed on the show
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Bishop Butler's sermons on ethics that John mentioned
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Hannah Arendt's book Eichmann in Jerusalem, the source of the phrase "banality of evil" that John uses
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Pope John Paul II's book on the importance of forgiveness, Forgiveness
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A Christian take on forgiveness by R. T. Kendall, Total Forgiveness
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