Reason- a basis or cause, as for some belief, action, fact, event, etc.
Excuse- an explanation offered as a reason for being excused; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault or for release from an obligation, promise, etc.
Forgiveness- the act of excusing a mistake or offense
Punishment- a penalty, imposed for a crime, fault etc.
As part of a society, we have police officers, prison guards, judges, and prosecutors who represent us, as much as possible, without passion or prejudice. Their job is to be the mechanism that investigates, sentences, and punishes those who harm part or all of society. They are not usually directly involved with the case or one of the victims and the system is designed to try and prevent that. Because of this, they institute punishments against people who have not personally wronged them. Though they might not like the criminal, they do not have to have any feelings at all to carry out the punishment. One does not have to harbor malice or ill will toward someone to punish them or want to punish them. Why is this important?
Many people will argue that forgiveness automatically implies cessation of the desire or need to punish someone. An excuse or mitigating circumstances may remit the necessity for a punishment, but a reason does not.
A man who downs 10 or 12 beers and plows into a pedestrian on the sidewalk has a reason for his actions, but a man who has a seizure suddenly and does the same thing has an excuse.
All of this to discuss something in the news that has come up on Law & Order. Specific genes have been identified that are linked to violent behavior and rape. The lawyer on the show made a good case. There's a gene that causes cystic fibrosis. If both parents are carriers, the child is 100% likely to develop the disorder. What about "violent" genes? Well, they say other factors come into play. The old nature v. nurture or the mix of the two. Again, a "violence" gene may even be a reason, but not an excuse. A bad childhood might also be a reason, but is it an excuse? i guess that's up to you. Who knows what a jury will decide.
Excuse- an explanation offered as a reason for being excused; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault or for release from an obligation, promise, etc.
Forgiveness- the act of excusing a mistake or offense
Punishment- a penalty, imposed for a crime, fault etc.
As part of a society, we have police officers, prison guards, judges, and prosecutors who represent us, as much as possible, without passion or prejudice. Their job is to be the mechanism that investigates, sentences, and punishes those who harm part or all of society. They are not usually directly involved with the case or one of the victims and the system is designed to try and prevent that. Because of this, they institute punishments against people who have not personally wronged them. Though they might not like the criminal, they do not have to have any feelings at all to carry out the punishment. One does not have to harbor malice or ill will toward someone to punish them or want to punish them. Why is this important?
Many people will argue that forgiveness automatically implies cessation of the desire or need to punish someone. An excuse or mitigating circumstances may remit the necessity for a punishment, but a reason does not.
A man who downs 10 or 12 beers and plows into a pedestrian on the sidewalk has a reason for his actions, but a man who has a seizure suddenly and does the same thing has an excuse.
All of this to discuss something in the news that has come up on Law & Order. Specific genes have been identified that are linked to violent behavior and rape. The lawyer on the show made a good case. There's a gene that causes cystic fibrosis. If both parents are carriers, the child is 100% likely to develop the disorder. What about "violent" genes? Well, they say other factors come into play. The old nature v. nurture or the mix of the two. Again, a "violence" gene may even be a reason, but not an excuse. A bad childhood might also be a reason, but is it an excuse? i guess that's up to you. Who knows what a jury will decide.
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