Forgiveness and Reconciliation in Palliative Care

The Gap between the Psychological and Moral Approaches

Bibliographic Data

ID5003072
AuthorsCarlo Leget (0000-0002-6647-8141, University of Humanistic Studies, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume11
Issue9
Pages440
Publication date2020-08-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligions (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel11090440
OpenAlexW3081388430
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited16

Forgiveness is an important theme in end-of-life care in all spiritual and religious traditions, although it is framed differently. Looking at research on forgiveness in palliative care literature from the last two decades, it is clear that forgiveness is predominantly carried out from a psychological perspective. According to this approach, forgiveness is seen as something that can be managed and taught in order to reduce stress and promote health. There is no doubt that this approach has its merits and is useful for dealing with guilt from the individual perspective of one's own psychological health. From a moral perspective, however, forgiveness is more than dealing with personal feelings of guilt. In order to show the differences and gaps between the psychological and moral perspectives on forgiveness, I discuss the work of the German philosopher Svenja Flaßpöhler. I show that, from a moral perspective, forgiveness can neither be managed or taught, nor seen as a form of understanding, loving, or forgetting. As a conclusion, I formulate some recommendations for future research on forgiveness, distinguishing between the psychological and moral perspectives on forgiveness

Feeling · Forgetting · Forgiveness · German · Psychotherapist · Forgiveness and Related Behaviors · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues · Psychology · Social Psychology

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