Forgiveness

Overview:

Dealing appropriately with injustice is of great importance for our coexistence, and the willingness to forgive is a central aspect thereof. The philosophical debate concerning forgiveness focuses primarily on two questions: What exactly does it mean in conceptual and normative terms to forgive a person, and what are the moral arguments for and against being willing to forgive? Other questions include whether we can be morally obliged to forgive under certain conditions, what role elapsed time plays in this context and what requesting forgiveness normatively entails.

Prof. Dr. phil. Susanne Boshammer

Prof. Dr. phil. Susanne Boshammer

Albrechtstraße 28a
49076 Osnabrück

Room: 69/109
Phone: +49 541 969-7112
susanne.boshammer@uni-osnabrueck.de

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Research Questions:

  • Is the concept of 'statute of limitations' also informative with regard to moral wrongs?
  • Who has the normative authority to forgive a person and what are the limits of this 'normative power'?
  • What constitutes a request for forgiveness and what difference does it make?

 

Publications:

  • Die zweite Chance. Warum wir (nicht alles) verzeihen sollten, Hamburg: rowohlt 2020
  • "Vergelten – Verstehen – Verzeihen? Begriffliche Klärungen des Umgangs mit Unrecht aus philosophischer Sicht", in: Konfliktdynamik, Jahrgang 12 (2023), Heft 3, S.180-186
  • "Politische Verantwortung, moralische Integrität und die Bitte um Verzeihung. Überlegungen zum 'Problem der Schmutzigen Hände'", in: Zeitschrift für Ethik und Moralphilosophie/Journal for Ethic and Moral Philosophy, July 2018, S.5-26
  • Interviews/podcast (in German):  Media appearances