Our century is witnessing violence on an unprecedented scale, in sectarian wars and terrorism that have torn deep into the fabric of our global world. In a world where revenge endangers the social and political organization of our lives, the politics of forgiveness has an indispensable place in public life. In On Forgiveness and Revenge, philosopher Ramin Jahanbegloo draws from the words of philosophers, writers, activists, and peacemakers in an attempt to provide a way forward for all of us.

This book examines two main concepts - harmony and exchange - in relation to the social, political, economic, and cultural dimensions of human life. As such, what differentiates humans from other living species are the possibility of understanding a context and the willingness to collaborate and create complex models of exchange. Specifically, emotion and intellect are established as fundamental dimensions of our being which play key roles in exchange with others and dealing with our environment.

This text provides a new perspective that examines being and becoming in a...