I was wrong : the meanings of apologies / Nick Smith.

Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2008.

Smith, Nick, 1972 January 14-

01-01-2008

xi, 298 p. ; 25 cm.

155.92 SMI (Copy 1) MAIN-MONO 284068 INLIBRARY

Ethics

Cultural values

Morals

Psychology

Overseas item

Apologizing.

Ethics.

Includes bibliographical references and index

9780521684231 (pbk.)

9780521865524 (hardback)

0521865522 (hardback)

0521684234 (pbk.)

"Discussing numerous examples from ancient and recent history, I Was Wrong: The Meanings of Apologies argues that we suffer from considerable confusion about the moral meanings and social functions of these complex interactions. Rather than asking whether a speech act "is or is not" an apology, Smith offers a nuanced theory of apologetic meaning. After describing several varieties of apologies between individuals, Smith turns to collectives. Although apologies from corporations, governments, and other groups can be profoundly significant, Smith guides readers to appreciate the kinds of meaning that collective apologies often do not convey and warns of the dangers of collective acts of contrition that allow individual wrongdoers to obscure their personal blame."--BOOK JACKET.

Introduction: Apologies as a source of moral meaning in modernity -- The meanings of apologies -- Elements of the categorical apology -- Corroborated factual record -- Acceptance of blame -- Distinguished from expression of sympathy -- Causation and moral responsibility -- Accidents and denials of intent -- Standing -- Identification of each harm -- Identification of the moral principles underlying each harm -- Endorsing moral principles underlying each harm -- Recognition of victim as moral interlocutor -- Categorical regret -- Performance of the apology -- Reform and redress -- Intentions for apologizing -- Emotions -- Apologies and gender -- Apologies in diverse religious and cultural traditions -- Unusual cases : apologizing to animals, infants, machines, the deceased, and -- Yourself -- The relationship between apologies and forgiveness -- Varieties of apologies -- Collective apologies -- The collective categorical apology -- The problem of consensus -- Issues specific to collective apologies -- Collectives corroborating factual records -- Collectives and blame -- Distinguished from collective expressions of sympathy -- Collective causation and collective moral responsibility -- Collective accidents and denials of intent -- Collectives, standing, and delegation -- Collectives identifying each harm -- Collectives identifying the moral principles underlying each harm -- Collectives endorsing moral principles underlying each harm -- Collectives recognizing victims as moral interlocutors -- Collectives and categorical regret -- Collectives performing apologies -- Collectives reforming and providing redress -- Collective intentions for apologizing -- Collective emotions -- Varieties of collective apologies -- Conclusion: Previewing apologies in law.

147601

284068

Library Catalogue