Lex Talionis is most often described as the “law of revenge” – usually at the same level you were wronged. So if a fighter caused you to lose your left arm. Lex Talionis meant thata you could get vengeance by taking the assailant’s left arm.

In my reading, Lex Talionis generally is described as a bad thing – equivalent revenge.

Could it be seen as a positive? Think about Hillel’s “Do Unto Others as they have Done Unto You” – which is generally seen as a model for good behavior and comity.

Where do you think Lex Talionis falls? A positive action or a negative action?