An original meditation on shame as the central emotion of our time – an expression of anger that is the necessary condition for new struggles.
Can shame become a source of political power? In the face of injustice, growing inequality, and systematic violence, we cry out in shame. We are ashamed of extreme wealth amidst broader deprivation.
We are ashamed of humanity for its brutal and continuing exploitation of the Earth. We feel ashamed of racism and discrimination in society and in our daily lives.This difficult feeling is not just sadness or self-absorption, nor is it a paralyzing feeling of inferiority. As Frederic Gross explains in his book “The Philosophy of Shame,” this feeling arises when our perception of reality rejects passivity and resignation and instead embraces fantasy. Thus, shame becomes an expression of anger that represents a powerful, transforming force that takes on a radical character.In dialogue with authors such as Primo Levi, Annie Ernault, Virginie Despant, and James Baldwin, Grosz explores a concept that is still not fully understood in its anthropological, ethical, psychological, and political depths. Shame is a revolutionary feeling because it lies at the foundation of any path of self-recognition, transformation, and struggle.
