ARC
ENGL 1113
Prof. H
18 August 2014
Lex Talionis
Gandhi once said “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” My quick thoughts on this quote are cause and effect. To me the first portion of this phrase is about revenge. The last part deals with the results of pure revenge. People throughout the human race have lived by the old law code of an eye for an eye. Law codes have dated close to 2400 B.C.E. This mantra has predated the Babylonian Empire and still up held by many. This is mainly to legal codes being seen as fitting counter punishment for an offense.
Revenge is seen by the world to be acceptable as long as the punishment meets the standard of justification. This is subjective to each person throughout life. When injustices happen people seem to have feelings of anger, resentment, and revenge. The world wants their wrongs to be made right, solely to feel justification. From a young age children across the world are taught if someone does something bad to you, you do it right back to them. This only breeds more cruelty in the world as a whole.
Gandhi's thoughts on a non violence movement is commendable by some and outrageous to others. In the quote he is merely trying to influence India's approach to political and social reform. The path of violence would only show the nation's weakness as a people. Gandhi showed India how to use this non violence doctrine as strength then the weakness projected. Gandhi himself stated “I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.”
The idea of an eye for an eye is barbaric. But I disagree with it wholeheartedly. Due to the idea that the entire world may become blind, without at some point learning the error of their way. I understand the views' cause and effect in the phrase. This effect of making the whole world blind by these actions of retaliation are a stretch to say the least. In my opinion not every person would...