Vengeance vs Justice
Vengeance and justice are two distinct concepts that people often confuse when they have been wronged. Feeling betrayed, angry, hurt, and even vengeful is a normal response to being wronged. The severity of the situation can influence the desire for revenge or justice. However, seeking justice is generally a better way to resolve a situation than seeking vengeance. This article will explore the differences between the emotions of vengeance and justice.
What is Vengeance?
Vengeance can be described as revenge or retaliation. No matter how good a person is, it is human nature to feel vengeful after being wronged. For example, imagine that your team leader blames you for a decrease in productivity when it was actually their fault. You would likely feel hurt and angry and want to take revenge.
A key characteristic of vengeance is that the individual takes the law into their own hands, rather than working within a system. It is not the actual laws that guide their thoughts and actions, but their anger and repressed emotions. This is the danger of vengeance. The individual’s sole purpose is not to achieve a just response or solution to the situation, but to satisfy their thirst for revenge. Vengeance can be considered not only as a negative emotion but also a destructive one because it obscures a person’s sense of right and wrong. In contrast, justice is quite different from vengeance.
Key Takeaways
- Vengeance is a negative and destructive emotion driven by anger and repressed feelings.
- Justice is a positive emotion that promotes fair and just treatment for all people.
- Seeking justice, rather than vengeance, is generally a better way to resolve a situation.
What is Justice?
Justice can be defined as just behavior or treatment. Justice is the accepted method of finding solutions to problems by working within a system. For example, imagine a situation where a criminal is caught by civilians in a small town. If the people hit the criminal and take the law into their own hands for the crimes he has committed against them, then that is vengeance. However, if the people hand him over to the police station so that he can be dealt with in a just manner, then that promotes justice.
In the case of justice, the issue is viewed objectively, ensuring fairness for both parties. Unlike vengeance, where the individual is driven by emotions of anger, pain, and hurt, justice is different. The person who committed the crime is given a punishment based on their crime. This creates a just and fair way of settling matters. Unlike vengeance, justice is positive and promotes the well-being of society.
Difference between Vengeance and Justice
Definitions of Vengeance and Justice:
- Vengeance: Vengeance can be understood as revenge or retaliation.
- Justice: Justice can be defined as just behavior or treatment.
Characteristics of Vengeance and Justice:
- Nature:
- Vengeance: Vengeance is a negative emotion.
- Justice: Justice is a positive emotion.
- Consequences:
- Vengeance: Vengeance can be detrimental.
- Justice: Justice promotes fair and just treatment for all people.
- Cause:
- Vengeance: In vengeance, the individual is driven by painful emotions.
- Justice: In justice, the sole purpose is to settle the matter fairly.
- Perspective:
- Vengeance: In vengeance, the matter is viewed subjectively.
- Justice: In justice, the matter is viewed objectively.
