Part of me wants to believe in revenge, just enough to vindicate the natural rage a parent feels even at the thought of harm coming to their children. But read this piece on the potential release of Michael Woodmansee and the statements by the father of his victim that if Woodmansee is released the father will seek out and kill him. And then definitely read the comments on the article.
I feel the gut-level urge to violent retribution as much as any parent. But I also can't see revenge as having any point here. And it doesn't strike me as helpful to dress it up as "justice." (Or as a matter of preventing the "monster" from striking again.)
The comments well-illustrate Socrates' remark in the Crito that the disagreement between those who believe that wrongs should be repaid in kind and those who reject this (as does Socrates) is fundamental and that both parties can do little more than despise each other.
It might be true that "the disagreement between those who believe that wrongs should be repaid in kind and those who reject this (as does Socrates) is fundamental and that both parties can do little more than despise each other," but would this even be an issue here if Woodmansee wasn't going to be released? It seems like an incredibly bad decision. Not that I'm any kind of expert on either this case or criminal psychology generally, but I would think that a (one-time) cannibal ought to be kept away from the general public, partly for his safety, partly for the safety of potential victims, and partly so that he can get whatever treatment he can be given. Presumably if he is released it will be because the law has tied the hands of those who would keep him locked up. I don't see much good coming of this though.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, there might be moral or philosophical or psychological differences between people that cannot be resolved, but there also might be ways of dealing with problems that make these differences less relevant.
Sure. From my limited understanding of the case, it seems unclear why Woodmansee was in the prison system (rather than a mental institution) in the first place. (But then that makes me wonder what the suggestion that he is up for parole for "good behavior" is all about.)
ReplyDeleteThe comments are harrowing; you can see the facebook-driven lynch mob forming...
If, as you concede, the disagreement is fundamental, shouldn't this post be entitled "Revenge/Justice" or "Justice/Revenge"?
ReplyDelete