What is Forgiveness? A Dialogue between Philosophy and Theology

In critical dialogue with Martha Nussbaum and her book Anger and Forgiveness: Resentment, Generosity, Justice, we describe forgiveness as a generosity which expresses itself through the cancelling of a moral debt. In the Christian tradition, this forgiveness – showing that a person is more than what they do – can take an anticipatory form and precede a future request for forgiveness. It includes the willingness to “bear” the fault of others and underlines the irreversible character of acts once they are committed.