Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

multigraincracker

(34,202 posts)
Fri Sep 9, 2022, 06:18 AM Sep 2022

Don't Confuse Revenge With Justice: Five Key Differences

Revenge can masquerade as justice, but it frequently ends up perverting it.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolution-the-self/201402/don-t-confuse-revenge-justice-five-key-differences

The terms revenge and justice often get muddled. And that’s hardly surprising. In the course of history, the two have been frequently used interchangeably. You may even be familiar with the phrase “just revenge.” Still, as meanings alter and evolve over time, the connotations of these two words have increasingly diverged. It’s now uncommon to see them used synonymously. And doubtless, revenge has borne the brunt of the various semantic changes that have transpired.

Yet certain overlaps between—and ambiguities within—the two terms do exist. Before delineating the chief distinctions that can usefully be made to separate them, let me at least hint at what some of these inconsistencies might be.

1. Revenge is predominantly emotional; justice primarily rational.

2. Revenge is, by nature, personal; justice is impersonal, impartial, and both a social and legal phenomenon.

3. Revenge is an act of vindictiveness; justice, of vindication.

4. Revenge is about cycles; justice is about closure.

5. Revenge is about retaliation; justice is about restoring balance.


In order to promote mental health, I'm posting this to keep our sanity, not to cause it. Some will surely disagree with me, but here it is anyway.

worth while read.

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Don't Confuse Revenge With Justice: Five Key Differences (Original Post) multigraincracker Sep 2022 OP
Maybe we need a thread about, gab13by13 Sep 2022 #1
Never heard "just revenge", only "just reward". niyad Sep 2022 #2
Vengeance is a human trait. Sayeth the lord, another human trait. cachukis Sep 2022 #3
justice delayed is .... Tetrachloride Sep 2022 #4
K&R reACTIONary Sep 2022 #5
K&R jmbar2 Sep 2022 #6
K & R...nt Wounded Bear Sep 2022 #7
I'm far from perfect, but I can strive to be better. multigraincracker Sep 2022 #8

multigraincracker

(34,202 posts)
8. I'm far from perfect, but I can strive to be better.
Fri Sep 9, 2022, 12:58 PM
Sep 2022

Kind of human nature, that revenge stuff. Being aware of the psychological damage it can cause, like sleepless nights, can get us back on the right track to sanity.
We don't don't want to be liked the ones we find fault in.

Latest Discussions»Support Forums»Mental Health Information»Don't Confuse Revenge Wit...