Philosophical Question IV

Daily Meditation #191–9/1/2022
Philosophical Questions I II III

How important is shame?

Should one have a capacity to experience shame?

Should one’s parents instill a sense of pride in their children, pride being the opposite of shame?

When someone is behaving outside the societal norms, should they be shamed? Who determines what “the norm” is?

If you act in a manner inconsistent with your principles — in total private — do you feel shame?

Does shame have a net positive or net negative effect on our lives in terms of improvement of the self?

Is feeling shame virtuous if we fall short of that which we aim to be?

If feeling shame is NOT constructive or beneficial, what about “pride?” Is pride not one of the Deadly Sins?

If there is something we are ashamed of, should our “feelings” be massaged so we don’t feel so ashamed? Or should we embrace it and be accountable?

I could go on…

But, “how important is shame?”