Is guilt a bad thing?

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Is guilt a bad thing or is there not enough of it?

Why are people so sensitive towards anything that they think makes them feel guilt.

[Shaker]

Depends.

Knowing and admitting when you've done wrong is a good thing.

On the other hand you can take it to morbid extremes - as Aldous Huxley put it, rolling in the muck is no way to get clean. And religions especially have been good at inculcating guilt about things that no one should feel guilty about, not only not-bad things but positively good things.

[Rhiannon]

Go on, Vlad, tell us how good guilt is for us. You know you want to.

[Sebastian Toe]

Is guilt a bad thing or is there not enough of it?

Are you an ontological guiltist?

[SqueakyVoice]

Are you an ontological guiltist?

I've always had Chunsty down as more of a swivel eyed antinnocenciest.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Go on, Vlad, tell us how good guilt is for us. You know you want to.

No Rhiannon I want to hear why you think it is a bad thing.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

I've always had Chunsty down as more of a swivel eyed antinnocenciest.

'ere..........less of the antinnocenciest, thank you.

[Rhiannon]

No Rhiannon I want to hear why you think it is a bad thing.

Troll feeding? Don't think so.

[Brownie]

Depends.

Knowing and admitting when you've done wrong is a good thing.

On the other hand you can take it to morbid extremes - as Aldous Huxley put it, rolling in the muck is no way to get clean. And religions especially have been good at inculcating guilt about things that no one should feel guilty about, not only not-bad things but positively good things.

Agree with all of that.  It's perfectly natural to feel guilty but there's no point in wallowing.  Far better to try and make amends.

[Stranger]

Is guilt a bad thing or is there not enough of it?

No.

[Bubbles]

Depends

Not to have a feeling of guilt about certain areas of self responsibility is bad.
A bit like not having a conscience.

Sometimes guilt can be a bad thing when you no longer are able to change things like saying regrettable things to a loved one who then dies before you can apologise.

It depends on the circumstances, sometimes people do wrong things and life happens.
Sometimes it's necessary to forgive yourself, instead of beating yourself up.

Sometimes people have to let go of the guilt.

[ilex]

Is guilt a bad thing or is there not enough of it?

Why are people so sensitive towards anything that they think makes them feel guilt.

It depends on the nature of the guilt.

If it is the public acceptance of an unnecessary harmful act expressed publicly (eg in a court of law) it's possibly a good thing. If it is an emotional state forced upon you for reasons of control (eg "sin" and other religious constructs) then they are not good.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

It depends on the nature of the guilt.

If it is the public acceptance of an unnecessary harmful act expressed publicly (eg in a court of law) it's possibly a good thing. If it is an emotional state forced upon you for reasons of control (eg "sin" and other religious constructs) then they are not good.

How is guilt OK in a secular sense but in religious hands it is a bad thing?
How do you feel people are controlled through Sin?

[floo]

If you have done something wrong you should try to put it right.

Some people seem to feel guilty about things over which they have no control, which is senseless, imo.

[Brownie]

I agree it is senseless floo but people can't help how they feel.  All the logic in the world doesn't alter it.  Time does sometimes.

Kids often have a sense of guilt inculcated into them from an early age, a grave error, cruelty even, on the part of the adults - who may have had the same treatment meted out to them.  They go around always feeling they are to blame for stuff and it shows, very sad.

[wigginhall]

I really hate guilt, as I've seen too many people's lives ruined by it.   A certain amount may be helpful, in order to bring about remorse, but it so easily becomes self-destructive, and then destructive of other people.   Beware the guilty person, as they will also tend to be very angry. 

[Walt Zingmatilder]

I really hate guilt, as I've seen too many people's lives ruined by it.   A certain amount may be helpful, in order to bring about remorse, but it so easily becomes self-destructive, and then destructive of other people.   Beware the guilty person, as they will also tend to be very angry.

Yes, we are not skilful at guilt and that poses some question. Some find forgiveness in God but having guilt on your own...........where do you go with it?.......or where do you let it take you?

[wigginhall]

Yes, we are not skilful at guilt and that poses some question. Some find forgiveness in God but having guilt on your own...........where do you go with it?.......or where do you let it take you?

You say 'yes' as if that agrees with my post; I can't see that it does.   Being skilful at guilt to me sounds like being skilful at murder; I see it as a negative force.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

You say 'yes' as if that agrees with my post; I can't see that it does.   Being skilful at guilt to me sounds like being skilful at murder; I see it as a negative force.

No....You said a certain amount may be helpful.

[Udayana]

If there is no free will, then there is no meaningful responsibility for action, so no reason for anyone to feel guilty for anything.

All these ideas - self, will, responsibility, morality, guilt have all developed as part of the evolution of humans as a social species.

Also sprach Zarathustra.

[Sebastian Toe]

If there is no free will, then there is no meaningful responsibility for action, so no reason for anyone to feel guilty for anything.

hmm. it's all hand waving though, until we see the maths.
 

[floo]

I have a close relative who seems to major on guilt trips about things, which definitely aren't her fault, it is really irritating.

[Udayana]

hmm. it's all hand waving though, until we see the maths.
 

So true