Philosophy Now Forum

Socrates’ was an apology in the sense of a formal justification, rather than the more common one of an acknowledgment of guilt (that is, responsibility for having done something wrong) combined with an expression of regret. Nevertheless, even an apology of the contrite sort can fail to embody a full-blooded acceptance of blame. Suppose you make a remark that hurts somebody else’s feelings; then you have done it either intentionally or inadvertently. A curious fact is that it may be appropriate in both types of case to say you are sorry. It could be blameworthy for you not to apologize for your blameless act.

Nor is it sufficient to say something like, “I am sorry you were put off by my remark.” This formulation expresses a kind of sympathy, to be sure, but one is not ascribing any responsibility to oneself for what has befallen the sufferer. It suggests ever so subtly that, insofar as someone is to blame, the sufferer herself is responsible (for being so sensitive, for making a misinterpretation, etc.), thereby adding insult to injury.

Thus, my claim is that sometimes even when something you have done with the best of intentions turns out awry purely by accident, you are duty bound to take a share of responsibility for it.