Kyla Hoster

Mrs. Hawkins
Period 3
25 October 2016
What REALLY is Revenge and Justice?
Revenge and Justice are typically confused and interchanged with one another, when they
are completely different. One main difference that Seltzer explains is, Revenge is by nature,
personal; justice is impersonal, impartial, and both a social and legal phenomenon. Revenge is
someone seeking personal reassurance to feel better about what the wrong that was done to them,
while, justice has to do with finding balance and not being bias. Another main difference is how
people feel after they receive justice or revenge, Once side gets satisfaction, then the other is
driven to get its satisfaction There can be no resolution, no compromise Justice, in contrast,
is designed to offer a resolution far more likely to eventuate in closure (Seltzer). There can
never be an end to revenge because the group on the receiving end then feels as though they need
to achieve revenge as well and a never-ending cycle starts. Meanwhile, justice typically finds
compromise which brings both parties to an agreement, which generally ends the conflict
between the two. The reason why justice and revenge are used interchangeably is, revenge
depending on its underlying conditions, motivations, and executionmight be either just or
unjust, fair or (frankly) outrageously out of proportion to the wrong originally done (Seltzer).
There can be exceptions between what is justice and revenge. Typically, the motivation behind
the act is able to tell and reveal whether it was done out of revenge or justice. In conclusion,
revenge and justice are completely different due to the motives and conditions behind them.

What really is revenge? There are many things that contribute to what revenge is. Seltzer
explains, Revenge is mostly about acting out markedly negative emotions. At its worst, it
expresses a hot, overwhelming desire for bloodshed. Behind revenge, there is always a motive,
the person is driven and is seeking to harm to the other party. Revenge is about finding payback
and receiving satisfaction, The motive of revenge has mostly to do with expressing rage, hatred,
or spite. Its a protest, or payback, and its foremost intent is to harm (Seltzer). Revenge is about
retribution, it comes from the natural man who does not know how to find compromise. It also
typically comes from one side, Revenge has a certain selfish quality to it (Seltzer). It usually
derives from one side of the party and switches back and forth between the two. This creates a
never ending cycle of vengeance. Revenge is a never ending selfish way of acting out that is used
to cause harm to the other parting that is created by the natural man.
Justice is completely different from revenge. Seltzer explains, Justiceas logically,
legally, and ethically definedisnt really about getting even or experiencing a spiteful joy in
relation. Instead, its about righting a wrong that most members of society would agree is
morally culpable. Justice is not used as a way to get back at someone and is unbiased. It is not
used to harm the other party but to find a compromise, Justice cannot be for one side alone, but
must be for both (Roosevelt). Justice is not a one-sided act and both parties are typically able to
always come to an agreement and end the conflict. Justice also does not derive from the natural
man, Social justice is impersonal, it revolves around moral correction in situations where
certain ethical and culturally vital principles have been violated (Seltzer). Justice is about
finding the right solution to a problem but it does not include personal desires to get back at
someone. Justice is derived from finding a compromise between both parties, doing right, and
does not include retaliation.

Leon F. Seltzer. Dont Confuse Revenge With Justice: Five Key Differences.