The law says punish the guilty and protect the innocent. But, that doesn’t always happen. Should the victim of a crime seek vengeance or justice? You tell me.
In this week’s newsletter, we are going to understand the relationship between seeking revenge and seeking justice. Exactly what are the parallels and dissimilarities? What constitutes an appropriate balance between justice and vengeance? Is there ever a time when vengeance calls for justice, and vice versa?
Revenge and justice
The concept of revenge is not foreign to any of us. Those who have taken revenge can attest to the emotional intensity of the experience. Revenge is the infliction of harm on another person as retribution for an injury or wrong sustained at their hands. It’s an urge to exact punishment on someone. Although it’s not something we like to admit, everyone has experienced the intense emotion of revenge at some point in their lives. It’s hardwired into our brains to want these things. We believe that getting even with an offender will help us feel better emotionally. On the other hand, seeking justice is an ethically sound course of action to take. Harmony, comfort, agreement, well-being, and truthfulness are the byproducts of a just society. The pursuit of justice is necessary for lasting peace. Due to the fact that it is a cardinal virtue, this is a fine line to walk. Seeking after what is good is both a gift from God and a right for those who put their faith in him. Justice, in the eyes of atheists, is predicated on human rights and the dignity of each individual human being. Regardless of how you see it, justice is the way to go.
Is getting revenge the same as getting justice?
Let’s understand the difference between justice and revenge. Throughout the course of history, the concepts of vengeance and justice have frequently been used synonymously with one another. But as time goes on and meanings shift and develop, the connotations of these two words have become increasingly distinct from one another.
- The majority of the time, exacting revenge means “acting out” extremely negative feelings. On the other hand, justice refers to the process of rectifying a wrong that the vast majority of people in a society would acknowledge as being immoral. In contrast to the altruistic nature of “cool” justice, the self-serving nature of revenge is manifested in its reliance on established law, which is not motivated by personal gain.
- To get even, to carry out a private vendetta, or to accomplish what one might subjectively describe as personal justice are the primary motivating factors behind the act of taking revenge. On the other hand, social justice is focused on moral correction in circumstances where certain ethical and culturally significant principles have been violated. This type of justice seeks to restore the balance between individuals and society. When justice is successfully administered, the specific punishment that is meted out confers advantages or affords protections to both the individual and the organisation.
- The intense effort that is put forth to exact revenge on oneself or others can easily become corrupting and bring about a decline in moral standing that is comparable to that of the offender. When it comes to ethics, two wrongs can never add up to a right, and they never will. The principles of honour, fairness, and virtue are the bedrock upon which justice is built. Assumptions, conventions, and doctrines all revolve around these core values. Its true intention is not to exact vengeance but rather to dole out what is due.
- Tit for tat is a game that never comes to an end, much like tic-tac-toe. There can be no resolution, no compromise. Each side (let’s say Israel and Palestine) has its own agenda as well as its own conception of what is morally acceptable. A resolution that is proposed by people or officials who are not generally connected to the two opposing camps offers a solution that is significantly more likely to result in closure.
- Most of the time, people want to get even because they are angry, hateful, or mean. Even if the punishment fits the crime, it is often an overreaction to how someone else is seen as being wrong. Restorative justice is given by a court and is not based on feelings. It tries to be as fair and objective as possible.
How should I get revenge if I still want to?
We know that our brains are hardwired to want to get even. We want revenge. Still, that’s not the right answer. In addition to being against the law, it’s wrong for all of the reasons I’ve given above. Nothing is ever solved by getting even. Psychologists have found that getting revenge may make you feel good in the short term, but in the long run, it makes the bad thing that happened even worse. Retaliation usually does more harm than good, so getting even rarely helps, but we still want to do it. So, this is where the law comes in. Let the law and the justice system do what you want. Give them the responsibility for handling this situation so that you can have peace of mind.
Should revenge ever be a part of justice?
There have been many cultures and civilizations throughout history that have had systems in place where the victim of a crime or the families of the victim could exact punishment on the perpetrator. That kind of punishment is still used in most parts of the world, especially in less developed areas. However, nowadays, in civilized countries, such a thing is considered primitive. I would say that revenge is justice. It’s possible that the justice system and the prison system are set up the way they are for a variety of reasons, including to maintain social order, punish those who are guilty, protect those who are innocent, keep the peace, and allow individuals to atone for their sins and wrongdoings. However, the most significant aspect of it is that it releases you from the responsibility of taking revenge.
Conclusion
“A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal.” –Francis Bacon.
We usually think of justice as good and revenge as bad, but Thane Rosenbaum says this is wrong. In an article for The Chronicle of Higher Education, he says, “A call for justice is always a call for revenge.” Rosenbaum says that the policy of “an eye for an eye” is right and that the policy of “turning the other cheek” is cowardly and goes against what people are like.
Revenge reopens and aggravates your emotional wounds. Even though you might be tempted to punish someone, you end up punishing yourself because you can’t heal. So don’t take revenge. Let the justice system do it for you.
Is getting revenge the same as getting justice?
Let’s understand the difference between justice and revenge. Throughout the course of history, the concepts of vengeance and justice have frequently been used synonymously with one another. But as time goes on and meanings shift and develop, the connotations of these two words have become increasingly distinct from one another.
- The majority of the time, exacting revenge means “acting out” extremely negative feelings. On the other hand, justice refers to the process of rectifying a wrong that the vast majority of people in a society would acknowledge as being immoral. In contrast to the altruistic nature of “cool” justice, the self-serving nature of revenge is manifested in its reliance on established law, which is not motivated by personal gain.
- To get even, to carry out a private vendetta, or to accomplish what one might subjectively describe as personal justice are the primary motivating factors behind the act of taking revenge. On the other hand, social justice is focused on moral correction in circumstances where certain ethical and culturally significant principles have been violated. This type of justice seeks to restore the balance between individuals and society. When justice is successfully administered, the specific punishment that is meted out confers advantages or affords protections to both the individual and the organisation.
- The intense effort that is put forth to exact revenge on oneself or others can easily become corrupting and bring about a decline in moral standing that is comparable to that of the offender. When it comes to ethics, two wrongs can never add up to a right, and they never will. The principles of honour, fairness, and virtue are the bedrock upon which justice is built. Assumptions, conventions, and doctrines all revolve around these core values. Its true intention is not to exact vengeance but rather to dole out what is due.
- Tit for tat is a game that never comes to an end, much like tic-tac-toe. There can be no resolution, no compromise. Each side (let’s say Israel and Palestine) has its own agenda as well as its own conception of what is morally acceptable. A resolution that is proposed by people or officials who are not generally connected to the two opposing camps offers a solution that is significantly more likely to result in closure.
- Most of the time, people want to get even because they are angry, hateful, or mean. Even if the punishment fits the crime, it is often an overreaction to how someone else is seen as being wrong. Restorative justice is given by a court and is not based on feelings. It tries to be as fair and objective as possible.
How should I get revenge if I still want to?
We know that our brains are hardwired to want to get even. We want revenge. Still, that’s not the right answer. In addition to being against the law, it’s wrong for all of the reasons I’ve given above. Nothing is ever solved by getting even. Psychologists have found that getting revenge may make you feel good in the short term, but in the long run, it makes the bad thing that happened even worse. Retaliation usually does more harm than good, so getting even rarely helps, but we still want to do it. So, this is where the law comes in. Let the law and the justice system do what you want. Give them the responsibility for handling this situation so that you can have peace of mind.
Should revenge ever be a part of justice?
There have been many cultures and civilizations throughout history that have had systems in place where the victim of a crime or the families of the victim could exact punishment on the perpetrator. That kind of punishment is still used in most parts of the world, especially in less developed areas. However, nowadays, in civilized countries, such a thing is considered primitive. I would say that revenge is justice. It’s possible that the justice system and the prison system are set up the way they are for a variety of reasons, including to maintain social order, punish those who are guilty, protect those who are innocent, keep the peace, and allow individuals to atone for their sins and wrongdoings. However, the most significant aspect of it is that it releases you from the responsibility of taking revenge.
Conclusion
“A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal.” –Francis Bacon.
We usually think of justice as good and revenge as bad, but Thane Rosenbaum says this is wrong. In an article for The Chronicle of Higher Education, he says, “A call for justice is always a call for revenge.” Rosenbaum says that the policy of “an eye for an eye” is right and that the policy of “turning the other cheek” is cowardly and goes against what people are like.
Revenge reopens and aggravates your emotional wounds. Even though you might be tempted to punish someone, you end up punishing yourself because you can’t heal. So don’t take revenge. Let the justice system do it for you.
