Forgiveness from a Feminist Perspective

(Paperback)

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This philosophical monograph on forgiveness is the first of its kind to be written from a feminist perspective. Kathryn J. Norlock urges scholars to attend to gender when analyzing and recommending forgiveness in practice. She demonstrates that while many academics find the concept of forgiveness both complex and fascinating, they seldom pay attention to the fact that issue of forgiveness intersect with those of gender in many crucial ways. By redefining forgiveness and self-forgiveness as including speech acts, emotions, and commitments, Norlock encourages readers to consider new questions about the advisability of trying to have a single, universal set of conditions for forgiveness because of the multidimensional nature of its practice and application. A new preface for the 2018 edition reflects on the additional complexities to the question of forgiveness posed by the #MeToo movement and white supremacist violence.

Reviews

Forgiveness is a topic philosophers today are newly beginning to examine in detail. Norlock dives into the deep end of forgiveness, with perceptive and provocative things to say about some of the hardest questions, such as forgiveness by third-parties and forgiving oneself. Her attention to gender as a dimension of who forgives, why, and how greatly enriches this original reflection with its often unexpected conclusions. -- Margaret Urban Walker, Donald J. Schuenke Chair in Philosophy, Marquette University
Kathryn Norlock's work poses challenging questions about the ever-fascinating topic of forgiveness. Any social theorist interested in relationships should benefit from reading this book. -- Trudy Govier, University of Lethbridge, author of Forgiveness and Revenge and Taking Wrongs Seriously

Author Bio

Kathryn Norlock is associate professor of philosophy at St. Mary's College of Maryland.