Revenge VS. Justice: What’s The Difference?
When someone suffers a wrong or an injustice, it is natural to want to see the person who caused the pain to experience some pain of their own.
This desire for retribution is called revenge. But what, exactly, is the difference between revenge and justice? And can revenge ever be justified?
The main difference between revenge and justice is that revenge is motivated by a desire for retaliation while justice is motivated by a desire for fairness.
Revenge is often characterized as being “an eye for an eye” while justice is usually seen as more rational and level-headed.
While revenge can sometimes be justified — for example, when it is the only way to bring about closure for the victim of a crime — it can lead to more problems. So it comes down to if it’s worth it.
Revenge and Justice Differences
Retribution
As mentioned above, revenge is motivated by a desire for retaliation while justice is motivated by a desire for fairness. This means that people who seek revenge are looking to settle the score while people who seek justice are looking to right a wrong.
Eyewitnesses
In order for justice to be served, there must be eyewitnesses who can attest to what happened and provide evidence that can be used in a court of law. Revenge, on the other hand, does not require any witnesses; it can be carried out even if no one but the person seeking revenge knows about it.
Proportionality
The punishment meted out in a case of justice should theoretically be proportional to the crime that was committed (although in practice it’s often much less for the perpetrator in relation to the victim). The punishment in a case of revenge, however, does not need to be proportional; it can be (and often is) much harsher than the original offense.
Timing
Justice is usually best served when it is dispensed quickly after the initial offense has been committed. This ensures that memories are still fresh and that evidence has not been tampered with or lost over time. Revenge, however, often takes place long after the original offense occurred; this can lead to problems with faded memories and lost evidence.
Revenge and justice by definition are two very different things but aiming for the same results – the method and motivation is what differs.
Revenge is motivated by a desire for retaliation while justice is motivated by a desire for fairness. Semantics in the eye of the wronged.
Revenge, justified or not, does solve the problem of justice not being served – of which is an injustice.
Justice is to balance, revenge is to equalize.