Moral hypochondria
Original title: Hipocondría moral
The dangers of moralism and sentimentalizing injustices: moral hypochondria versus ethics.
A ghost is visiting the living rooms of the western middle classes: the ghost of moral hypochondria. Feeling guilty for events that they did not directly participate in: this seems to be the reaction amongst well-off people. Untrained in assuming political responsibilities, they fight the wrong in the world with sentimentalism, Manichean judgements and a mix of moral decency and narcissism.
This essay delves into a true case, the works of Philip Roth, Joan Didion and Mark Fisher in order to vindicate ethics against moral hypochondria.
The dangers of moralism and sentimentalizing injustices: moral hypochondria versus ethics.
A ghost is visiting the living rooms of the western middle classes: the ghost of moral hypochondria. Feeling guilty for events that they did not directly participate in: this seems to be the reaction amongst well-off people. Untrained in assuming political responsibilities, they fight the wrong in the world with sentimentalism, Manichean judgements and a mix of moral decency and narcissism.
This essay delves into a true case, the works of Philip Roth, Joan Didion and Mark Fisher in order to vindicate ethics against moral hypochondria.
