Two Cheers for Vindictiveness

Punishment & Society, Vol. 2, p. 131, 2000

13 Pages Posted: 27 Aug 2009

See all articles by Jeffrie G. Murphy

Jeffrie G. Murphy

Arizona State University College of Law

Date Written: 200

Abstract

A vindictive person is one who desires to get even to seek revenge for wrongs sustained at the hands of others. Vindictiveness (the desire for revenge) is commonly condemned as irrational, immoral, and deserving of no place in civilized legal systems. It is here argued that this condemnation may be hasty - may often reflect more what we think we ought to say than what we actually feel and believe. After an attempt to rehabilitate, at least partially, the reputation of the vindictive passions, the article closes with some serious cautions with respect to the ultimate legitimacy of acting upon these passions.

Keywords: Revenge, sentencing, victim impact statements

Suggested Citation

Murphy, Jeffrie G., Two Cheers for Vindictiveness (200). Punishment & Society, Vol. 2, p. 131, 2000, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1462831

Jeffrie G. Murphy (Contact Author)

Arizona State University College of Law ( email )

Box 877906
Tempe, AZ 85287-7906
United States
(480) 965-5856 (Phone)
(480) 965-2427 (Fax)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
253
Abstract Views
1,989
Rank
219,894
PlumX Metrics