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Originally Posted by peacegirl
How can a person offer an excuse for what he did [which hurt another] when he's already excused and no one is questioning his conduct?
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Originally Posted by Angakuk
Maybe because he is questioning his own conduct. Some people, when they feel guilty over having engaged in some thought or action, will offer excuses for that thought or action even though no one else is blaming them, holding them responsible or are even aware of the thought or action in question. Why do they offer excuses when no one is blaming then? Probably because they feel guilty and feel the need to excuse themselves to themselves. In other words, offering an excuse, even when no one expects it of them, is a movement in the direction of greater satisfaction.
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Yes, people offer excuses to justify their actions, but if they are already excused because we know they couldn't help themselves, they have no way to justify their actions
to themselves. You're not understanding why conscience cannot accept actions that cannot be justified. If we take away their ability to rationalize their behavior, because they're already excused, they are left with an uncomfortable feeling since their rationalizations are not being given a chance to satisfy what their conscience knows is wrong.