Virtuous condonation

Scarre, Geoffrey

Abstract

Moral philosophers have mostly condemned the condonation of a bad act as being close to complicity in wrongdoing or, at best, as indicative of a lax moral conscience. I argue, in contrast, that condoning a wrongful act is sometimes not only permissible but positively virtuous. After considering the nature of condonation, I describe a range of circumstances in which it may be an appropriate response to wrongdoing, expressing such virtues as compassion and mercifulness, tolerance of human frailty, a love of amity, and a proper respectfulness for others’ autonomy as moral agents.

Citation

Scarre, G. (2014). Virtuous condonation. Philosophical Papers, 43(4), 405-428. https://doi.org/10.1080/05568641.2014.976442

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Nov 3, 2014
• Publication Date: 2014
• Deposit Date: May 27, 2014
• Journal: Philosophical Papers
• Print ISSN: 0556-8641
• Electronic ISSN: 1996-8523
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 43
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 405-428
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/05568641.2014.976442
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1432302