What Is Forgiveness?

To forgive is to respond in a particular way to someone who has treated someone badly or wrongly. In paradigmatic cases, forgiveness is a triadic relation between a wrong action, a wrongdoer and a wronged victim; the victim forgives the wrongdoer for having done. By forgiving, a victim can move on from while still judging that it was a culpable wrong. It has been claimed that the core of forgiveness is the giving up of certain negative emotions towards the wrongdoer, or the forbearance of negative treatment of the wrongdoer, or the restoration of the relationship with the wrongdoer, or the alteration of the norms bearing on victim and wrongdoer. What is the nature of forgiveness—what must one do in order to forgive? What is the scope of forgiveness—when is one in a position to forgive and which things can be forgiven? What are the norms governing forgiveness—when is forgiveness morally good, right, or praiseworthy?