Guilt
Guilt
“So what’s today’s virtue?” Liam asked.
“Guilt,” I said.
“What the @#$%& kind of virtue is guilt?” Michaela asked.
I sat quietly for a minute letting them think about it. James didn’t let me down.
“Guilt is like pain – it’s a warning that something is wrong,” James said. He thought for a moment. “There’s a rare disorder where people don’t feel pain. They die early because they do not know they are hurt. People who feel no guilt do not believe anything they do is wrong. They tend to be sociopaths.”
“People who feel no guilt have less incentive to change their behavior,” Ann added.
“Why is our culture so down on guilt?” I asked.
“When one’s guilt is excessive, or used to manipulate people, that is bad,” James said. “People can become overwhelmed with guilt, or feel guilty over trifles. Still, the capacity for guilt is a virtue.”
Today I will be grateful for my capacity to feel appropriate guilt.
AArdvarks (c) 2013 by Ken Montrose
“So what’s today’s virtue?” Liam asked.
“Guilt,” I said.
“What the @#$%& kind of virtue is guilt?” Michaela asked.
I sat quietly for a minute letting them think about it. James didn’t let me down.
“Guilt is like pain – it’s a warning that something is wrong,” James said. He thought for a moment. “There’s a rare disorder where people don’t feel pain. They die early because they do not know they are hurt. People who feel no guilt do not believe anything they do is wrong. They tend to be sociopaths.”
“People who feel no guilt have less incentive to change their behavior,” Ann added.
“Why is our culture so down on guilt?” I asked.
“When one’s guilt is excessive, or used to manipulate people, that is bad,” James said. “People can become overwhelmed with guilt, or feel guilty over trifles. Still, the capacity for guilt is a virtue.”
Today I will be grateful for my capacity to feel appropriate guilt.
AArdvarks (c) 2013 by Ken Montrose
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