Does Forgiveness Heal — or Whitewash Evil?

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In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Onkar Ghate and Tristan de Liège discuss why the traditional conception of forgiveness is evil and indicate how to think of it from an Objectivist perspective.

Among the topics covered:

• How forgiveness is conventionally understood;
• Why the idea of “forgive and forget” enables injustice;
• Why forgiving a murderous dictator like Putin would be horrific;
• Why a rational view of forgiveness must be rooted in justice;
• The story of Mosab Hassan Yousef as an example of earning forgiveness;
• How healing from injustice comes from maintaining a positive value context, not forgiveness;
• Whether there is need for a separate concept of forgiveness.

Recommended in this podcast are the Ayn Rand Lexicon entries on “Mercy,” “Justice,” and “Moral Judgment.” The podcast was recorded on February 14, 2025 and posted on February 19, 2025. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Watch archived podcasts here.