Guilt and Respect / Schuld und Respekt
On the Practice of Retribution and Reconciliation
On the cultural significance of the new practice of guilt
Contrary to what Nietzsche thought, guilt has not disappeared from modern life, but is increasingly conquering the political sphere. Today, confessions of guilt are an integral part of national and international politics. Maria-Sibylla Lotter questions the cultural significance of the new practice of guilt and distinguishes the political significance of confessions of guilt from their moral and legal significance. Like practices of excuse and revenge, confessions of guilt serve to restore...
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Contrary to what Nietzsche thought, guilt has not disappeared from modern life, but is increasingly conquering the political sphere. Today, confessions of guilt are an integral part of national and international politics. Maria-Sibylla Lotter questions the cultural significance of the new practice of guilt and distinguishes the political significance of confessions of guilt from their moral and legal significance. Like practices of excuse and revenge, confessions of guilt serve to restore disturbed relations of respect among equals. However, due to their susceptibility to moralistic misunderstandings, they can also develop a destructive momentum of their own.
2024, 191 pages