Kingston Philosophy Café

Philosopher and Vice-President of Philosophy For All Dr Filiz Peach and actor Clive Ward explore the concept of guilt in a talk and performance of passages from Albert Camus' "The Fall".

Most of us experience a sense of guilt at some stage in our lives. What is guilt? What does it mean to feel guilty? Moral guilt is the feeling that accompanies the consciousness of being guilty and may take place in both conscious and unconscious processes. According to Freud, guilt is in the psychological fabric of man and it is widely accepted that guilt is a moral sentiment built into human nature, whereas Marx argues that it is in societal structure. Some existential philosophers claim that guilt has its roots firmly grounded in human existence in that there is no justification for our existence. If so, should we feel guilty for being alive? Is feeling guilty irrational? Without a sense of guilt would human existence be chaotic? 

Space in the Gallery is limited, so come early to ensure a seat.