11 - Forgiveness and Ageing

Summary

Ought ageing people sometimes to be prepared to forgive old offences that it would not have been (so) appropriate for them to have forgiven at an earlier date? The question is tackled in the framework of a narrative conception of human life that focuses attention on the changing impact of offences on victims as they advance through their life-stories. While concerns can be raised regarding the intelligibility or point of forgiveness of long-past offences given the changes that occur to people (both victims and offenders) over time, it is argued that forgiveness has a valuable role to play in tying up the moral loose ends in a life-narrative. Finally, the question is asked whether an offender may forgive herself for an offence committed against someone who is now deceased. It is proposed that although this would be out of order, an offender may legitimately forgive herself for the harm she has done to herself through her wrongdoing.