The Era of Pangs of Conscience: Sentimentalism without Concrete Soli
The article examines the generalization of pangs of conscience to analyze contemporary transformations. Situated halfway between the defense of one's convictions and self-interested calculations, pangs of conscience are interpreted as an unforeseen consequence of individual empowerment, the capacity for reflection, the awareness of the interdependence of social phenomena and, finally, the increasing feeling of mistrust towards collective behavior. The result, illustrated by varying social practices, is the advent of a relatively showy form of sentimentalism whose translation into concrete solidarity remains limited.