ABSTRACT
This chapter examines three approaches to justifying the practice of forgiveness: the Kantian, the virtue-ethicist and the utilitarian. It offers the most illuminating account of when and why one should forgive, and of the importance of forgiveness in the moral life. Many utilitarians are prepared to make room for virtue in their theory, provided that virtues are thought of as instrumentally rather than intrinsically valuable. Utilitarians believe that forgiveness derives its value from its propensity to make the world a better place. Whether forgiveness is called for in a given case depends on whether granting it is likely to produce more good than refusing it. The virtue-ethics approach can be brought to bear on forgiveness. Forgiveness promotes happiness and joy for all involved – and to a greater degree than all other acts. The difficulty with this motivation is that utility implies an element of rational calculation of consequences.
