Regret is born where choice dies

Publication Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

7-2022

Abstract

​​​​​​​This paper analyses regret. On the basis of a number of examples, the case is made that regret is a negative affective state that has a perceived past choice as its object. More precisely, S regrets φ-ing, iff, and because (i) S has a negative affective state regarding φ-ing (Negative Affect State Requirement), the experience of which is explained by (ii) S perceiving that an alternative choice that was available to her would have been preferable to φ-ing (Perceived Forking Path Requirement). The resulting account is differentiated from Williams’ agent-regret and shown to avoid problems faced by Zeelenberg’s definition of regret.

Keywords

regret, negative affective state, past choice, Negative Affect State Requirement, Perceived Forking Path Requirement, agent-regret, Zeelenberg's definition

Discipline

Epistemology

Research Areas

Humanities

Publication

Philosophical Papers

Volume

51

Issue

2

First Page

319

Last Page

322

ISSN

0556-8641

Identifier

10.1080/05568641.2022.2082514

Publisher

Taylor and Francis Group

Additional URL

http://doi.org/10.1080/05568641.2022.2082514

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