Most of us have needed forgiveness a time or two. And many of us have offered it—or at least attempted to. But what does it really mean to forgive?

Today we’ll continue with part two of the conversation we started yesterday about punishment and forgiveness. We’ll probe the meaning of forgiveness and the role it plays in peaceful societies. Philosopher Charles Griswold will help us examine when forgiveness might be appropriate, how forgiveness is most perfectly achieved, and whether or not there’s such a thing as the truly unforgiveable.

We’ll also talk with Naseem Rakha about her new novel, The Crying Tree and with Katy Hutchison, a writer from Canada, about her journey into forgiveness after the murder of her husband.

Leave your questions and comments below.

This episode originally aired July 15, 2009.