Abstract
This paper outlines and defends a notion of ‘tragic-remorse’. This moral emotion properly accompanies those actions that involve unavoidable moral wrongdoing in general and dirty hands scenarios in particular. Tragic-remorse differs both phenomenologically and conceptually from regret, agent-regret and remorse. By recognising the existence of tragic-remorse, we are better able to account for our complex moral reality which at times makes it necessary for good persons to act in ways that although justified leave the agent with a moral stain and a particular emotional response.
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De Wijze, S. Tragic-Remorse–The Anguish of Dirty Hands. Ethic Theory Moral Prac 7, 453–471 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10677-005-6836-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10677-005-6836-x