Quiz 2 for POLS 4160 Jaspers Four Concepts of Guilt

Student’s Name:
Professor’s Name:
Course:
Date:
* Jaspers’ four concepts of guilt
The first concept is metaphysical guilt, which is akin to “survivor’s guilt”. By definition, it is a feeling that results from actions which oppose the overruling qualities which are inherent in human traditions and in this case the German culture. It is a misconstrued and abused concept that reminds us of the faded ways in which each and every life on earth is entangled and we knowingly and unknowingly profit from the suffering of other people. Its boundaries lie with a higher being only. Metaphysical guilt is part of a general guilt by humanity for failing to live up to what is considered to be idealCITATION Ste13 \p 38 \l 1033 (Wolfe 38). This connection between humans makes hi, or her equally responsible for every decision made whether good or bad and most especially for crimes committed in his knowledge or presence. Jaspers explains that all Germans are guilty because they inherited the German culture, a culture that will forever be betrayed by the murder of millions of Jews. However this guilt is cemented by the actual fact of genocideCITATION Ste13 \p 58 \l 1033 (Wolfe 58). Therefore, humanity becoming an aspect of metaphysical guilt is guided by the ideas to which it has access to in tradition and culture.
The second concept of guilt as discussed by Jaspers is political guilt, which is an overall guilt borne by citizens for the guilt of their leaders and fellow citizens and it means that every individual faces consequences for said deeds, misgivings and actionsCITATION Ste13 \p 38 \l 1033 (Wolfe 38). Political guilt falls on all people, friend or foe, and it doesn’t mean that individuals are not accountable for the acts done by other people in the name of the state. Its boundaries lay with the power and intentions of the victor should the state be defeated in any military front. The exercise of prudent politics serves to mitigate arbitrary power. As with criminal guilt, citizens may be accused of political guilt and may have a certified interest in seeing justices being served but the judges are not interested in the fate of the said nation as much as in administering pretend justice. Tools such as the art of guilt-manipulation are used to make enemies surrender in this crusade that political guilt use as a lead to the concept of war. Political guilt and all its collective trimmings is the only rightful collective guiltCITATION Ste13 \p 59 \l 1033 (Wolfe 59). The only right way to address political guilt is by accepting responsibility and making repairs, though in reality this amounts to total recall of one’s pride and letting the victor take charge. The more powerful and strong adversary plays judge, jury and executioner, and none of it really contains much in the way of larger moral lessons. Individual political liability is properly calibrated according to the extent of the individual’s participation in the atrocious crimes committed.
Moral guilt is the third concept explicated by Jaspers. This is where an individual is responsible for all their moral actions for participating in and executing of orders given from any sideCITATION Ste13 \p 37 \l 1033 (Wolfe 37). Group...