Guilt

Guilt is a word describing many concepts related to a negative emotion or condition caused by actions which are, or are believed to be, morally wrong.

Cultural views of guilt

Traditional Japanese society and Ancient Greek society are sometimes said to be "shame-based" rather than "guilt-based" in that the social consequences of "getting caught" are seen as more important than the individual feelings or experiences of the agent. This may lead to more of a focus on etiquette than ethics as understood in Western civilization. This leads some to question why then we would adapt the words ethos and mores from Ancient Greek when their norms are so different from ours. A asks this.

Related Topics:
Japanese society - Ancient Greek society - Shame - Etiquette - Ethics - Ethos - Mores - Ancient Greek

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Christianity and Islam inherit most notions of guilt from Judaism, Persian and Roman ideas, mostly as interpreted through Augustine who adapted Plato's ideas to Christianity. The Latin word for guilt is culpa, a word sometimes seen in law literature, e.g. in "mea culpa", "I take responsibility". The Latin word for authority assumes a high degree of responsibility, the English word "province" being a close equivalent.

Related Topics:
Christianity - Islam - Judaism - Persia - Roman - Augustine - Plato - Latin - Responsibility - Authority - Province

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Guilt in literature

Guilt was a theme in John Steinbeck's East of Eden and many other works of literature. It is a nearly universal concern of novelists, who explore inner life and secrets.

Related Topics:
John Steinbeck - East of Eden - Life - Secret

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