What reasons or rational arguments can one give to explain why revenge is morally & pragmatically unjustified?

Question

I said rational argument, although I will accept a biblical quote as supporting evidence of Christian morality. OT Hebrews support the eye-for-eye concept of justice although I believe personal revenge is forbidden.

I said rational argument, although I will accept a biblical quote as supporting evidence of Christian morality. OT Hebrews support the eye-for-eye concept of justice although I believe personal revenge is forbidden.

Rational reason for what? please speak in whole, competed sentences!

Answer 1

Gandhi said," An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."
I think that's a rational reason.

Answer 2

Pragmatically because you will wind up in prison or the victim of someone else's revenge. Morally because for the success of any civilization, the first principle of ethics is always the non-initiation of force, i.e., not using coercion. But that is not all. It is also moral integrity to allow the justice system to support the objective needs of a safe and sane society.

Answer 3

The things I deem morally right are those that do the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Let’s use and example of why acting vengefully is not moral.

For Example: Say a business partner wronged me in a deal and sole a lot of money from me.

I could retort by stealing his car or kidnapping his kid. Morally this is the wrong thing to do because it does not do the greatest good for the greatest number of people…it’s kind of obvious that it’s not the moral thing to do. Pragmatically these actions may land me in jail and hurt people that I do not intend to (the kid I kidnap).

Besides vengeful actions having an affect on oneself, they almost always have an affect on other parties…even if that other party is society as a whole. To get back at my business partner….I could go murder my business partner’s wife. That would have an affect on her family, friends, and also affect our society as a whole by ripple effect.

Long Story Short: It does not make sense to seek vengeful action because of its destructive nature on oneself (becoming a hurtful person / going to jail) and others. One has to consider the repercussions of the vengeful action. Morally it is the obvious the bad choice since it does not do the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Vengeful action only satisfies oneself at a very superficial level.

Answer 4

Revenge just doesn't solve the problem. Any problem. I may as well look this one up, because I forget who said it first, something about hate not bringing an end to hate, only love can bring an end to hate..? I don't remember it exactly, but basically, revenge only re-starts the hurt factor. Morally, it's wrong because we should love and act as if we love. Practically and logically revenge makes us look bad, insecure, and makes us a target for revenge ourselves.

Answer 5

THE BIBLE STATES; VENGEANCE IS MINE SAITH THE LORD, I WILL REPAY. THIS BEING STATED IN THE WORD OF GOD IS THEREFORE TRUE AND AS SUCH IS A COMMAND TO BELIEVERS TO FORGO REVENGE. JESUS ALSO TOLD US TO TURN THE OTHER CHEEK MEANING WE SHOULD ACCEPT PUNISHMENT AS A MEANS OF ESTABLISHING PEACE, EVEN IF WE ARE NOT THE GUILTY PARTY.