Introduction

Summary

Self-blame is an integral part of our lives. We often blame ourselves for our failings, and we experience a familiar set of unpleasant emotions such as guilt, shame, regret, or remorse. Self-blame is also often what we aim for when we blame others – we want the people we blame to recognize their wrongdoings and blame themselves for it. Moreover, self-blame is typically considered to be a necessary condition for forgiveness. If the wrongdoer has not blamed herself/himself for her/his action, say by experiencing guilt or remorse, forgiveness may seem inappropriate. Yet so far, self-blame has not been an integral part of the theoretical debate about the nature of blame and its relation to moral responsibility. This volume seeks to remedy this omission.