Miranda Fricker: Ambivalence About Forgiveness

Colloquium lecture by Miranda Fricker (CUNY Graduate Center), organized by the Department of Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy

Our ideas about forgiveness seem to oscillate between idealization and scepticism. One might think this simply indicates disagreement, or indecision, but I suspect not. I see these different attitudes as representing opposing moments of a collective moral ambivalence about forgiveness that is well grounded, and I aim to show that there is a philosophical angle on forgiveness capable of vindicating both of our opposing perspectives simultaneously. Once we are correctly positioned, we shall see...(continue reading...)