I was wrong: the meanings of apology

Introduction: Apologies as a source of moral meaning in modernity

The meanings of apologies

Elements of the categorical apology

Corroborated factual record

Acceptance of blame

Distinguished from expression of sympathy

Causation and moral responsibility

Accidents and denials of intent

Standing

Identification of each harm

Identification of the moral principles underlying each harm

Endorsing moral principles underlying each harm

Recognition of victim as moral interlocutor

Categorical regret

Performance of the apology

Reform and redress

Intentions for apologizing

Emotions

Apologies and gender

Apologies in diverse religious and cultural traditions

Unusual cases : apologizing to animals, infants, machines, the deceased, and

Yourself

The relationship between apologies and forgiveness

Varieties of apologies

Collective apologies

The collective categorical apology

The problem of consensus

Issues specific to collective apologies

Collectives corroborating factual records

Collectives and blame

Distinguished from collective expressions of sympathy

Collective causation and collective moral responsibility

Collective accidents and denials of intent

Collectives, standing, and delegation

Collectives identifying each harm

Collectives identifying the moral principles underlying each harm

Collectives endorsing moral principles underlying each harm

Collectives recognizing victims as moral interlocutors

Collectives and categorical regret

Collectives performing apologies

Collectives reforming and providing redress

Collective intentions for apologizing

Collective emotions

Varieties of collective apologies

Conclusion: Previewing apologies in law.