condignatio

Condignatio is a Latin noun meaning the act or state of being deemed worthy, particularly in reference to punishment or reward that is deserved. The term derives from condignus, meaning worthy or due, with the abstract noun suffix -atio, and occurs in scholastic, theological, and legal-philosophical Latin literature.

In moral theology and philosophy, condignatio denotes desert-based justice: penalties or rewards that are properly due to a person because of their actions. Scholastic authors contrasted condign merit or punishment with congruent forms of merit or punishment. Condign merit is that which is strictly due to God’s justice for human merit, while congruent merit depends on cooperation with grace; likewise, condign punishment is punishment that is owed as a desert, whereas congruent punishment may serve penance, reform, or rehabilitation.

In legal and political contexts, the term is used more rarely in modern English, with terms like desert-based punishment or just deserts more common. Condignatio thus captures the idea of proportionality and moral desert in the differentiation between what is deserved and what is imposed for prudential or leniency reasons.

See also:

- Condign punishment

- Congruent punishment

- Just deserts

- Merit (theology)

- Proportionality