A Kantian Critique of "Sorry" by Justin Bieber
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
The song "Sorry" misunderstands apology, treating it as a strategy for regaining something desired.
The article argues that the central question "Is it too late to say sorry?" is not a moral question but reveals a failure of Kantian ethics. Bieber's apology is a hypothetical imperative, motivated by self-interest, such as regaining affection. The lyrics treat wrongdoing as a contest, and the apology is conditional on receiving forgiveness or a second chance. A moral apology would be a categorical imperative: acknowledging wrongdoing regardless of consequences.
What commenters are saying
Two camps: those extending the analysis to other songs and philosophers, and those debating the sincerity of pop lyrics. One commenter noted the word "but" in apologies invalidates the preceding phrase, a common insight from recovery groups. Another pointed out Bieber could be a dualist, as he misses more than just her body. Some commenters linked to other humorous philosophical critiques of pop music. The thread also included a discussion of whether LLMs wrote the piece.