Apology and Sincerity

Abstract

When studying the apology as a speech act, the notion of sincerity becomes central for the investigation. In the literature, sincerity has been understood as a matter of correspondence between words and mind. However, the philosophical problems that arise from this definition of sincerity, especially problems belonging to the philosophy of mind, have not been properly addressed. By properly resituating the apology in its ordinary ethical context – where notions such as bonds of trust, undertaking commitments and having integrity are vital – it becomes possible to shift sincerity as a correspondence between word and mind towards sincerity as a correspondence between word and action. Sincerity is thereby anchored in the way speaking entails undertaking certain commitments (and how we can find ourselves going back on our word). Four such commitments that are undertaken in an apology are presented, along with four corresponding ways of going back on one’s word: upon saying one is sorry, one undertakes certain commitments regarding justice, agency, normativity and intention.