THE ECONOMY OF GUILT

In: Political theory: an international journal of political philosophy, Band 3, Heft 2, S. 198-215

Abstract

THE IDEA OF GUILT WHICH EMERGES QUITE EARLY IN PRE-POLITICAL SOCIETY, SEEHS TO REST LESS ON POLLUTION AND SIN, AND MORE ON THE ELEMENTAL NOTION OF EXCHANGE. FROM THE TRADESMAN AND PRIEST ALIKE POLITICAL SOCIETY HAS LEARNED TO USE GUILT-WORDS WHICH HAVE AN ECONOMIC CONTENT, IF IT IS TRUE OUR RESPONSES AND PERCEPTIONS ARE CONDITIONED BY LANGUAGE, THEN SCRUTINY OF OUR TERMS IS ESSENTIAL.