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New book
investigates the Art of the Apology
Newswise —
Nick Smith, assistant
professor of philosophy at the University of
New Hampshire and a former Manhattan
attorney, provides a provocative look at the
art of the apology in his new book, “I Was
Wrong: The Meanings of Apologies” (2008,
Cambridge University Press).
There was Eliot
Spitzer’s public act of contrition about his
involvement with a high-priced prostitute.
And Hillary Clinton’s repudiation of one of
her advisors for comments about her
opponent’s ethnicity.
Finally, there was
Barack Obama’s apology for a consultant’s
characterization of Clinton as a “monster.”
In the last week or so,
the American public has witnessed several
public apologies. But are these sincere or
just hollow acts prompted by a media
firestorm?
Apologies pervade our
news headlines and our private affairs, but
how should we evaluate these often vague and
deceptive rituals?
Discussing numerous
examples from ancient and recent history,
Smith argues that we suffer from
considerable confusion about the moral
meanings and social functions of these
complex interactions.
Rather than asking
whether an apology is genuine, Smith offers
a theory of apologetic meaning.
He argues that
apologies have evolved from diverse cultural
and religious practices that do not
translate easily into pluralistic secular
discourse.
After describing
several varieties of apologies between
individuals, Smith turns to collectives.
Although apologies from
corporations, governments, and other groups
can be profoundly significant, Smith warns
of the dangers of collective acts of
contrition that allow individual wrongdoers
to obscure their personal blame.
Smith is an assistant
professor of philosophy at the University of
New Hampshire.
A graduate of Vassar
College, he earned a law degree from SUNY at
Buffalo and a Ph.D. in philosophy from
Vanderbilt University.
Before coming to UNH,
he worked as a litigator for LeBoeuf, Lamb,
Greene, and MacRae, and as a judicial clerk
for the Honorable R.L. Nygaard of the United
States Court of Appeals for the Third
Circuit.
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