A Kantian Critique of Justin Bieber's "Sorry"
A Kantian Critique of "Sorry" by Justin Bieber
This essay applies Immanuel Kant's moral philosophy to Justin Bieber's 2015 hit "Sorry," arguing that the song's central question—"Is it too late to say sorry?"—reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of apology. Through a Kantian lens, the apology is shown to be a hypothetical imperative, a strategic tool for regaining a relationship rather than a moral duty. The lyrics' focus on redemption, second chances, and the wrongdoer's loss, rather than the wrong committed, demonstrates a self-interested maxim. Ultimately, the song's question inadvertently highlights its own moral failure, as a genuine apology would not hinge on the possibility of forgiveness.
Once an apology is evaluated by whether it can secure forgiveness and reconciliation, it ceases to be an action grounded in duty.
- mwillis
This 3 minute song creates a fleeting portrait of a man, not necessarily Bieber, who we cannot know. The song captures the mindset of a character who, one might infer, cynically knows what he’s trying to do. It’s possible he has no interest in a heartfelt, meaningful apology. In fact, this character - who lives only within the song and the liminal world it creates - may be operating exactly to his own moral preference. We don’t know enough to say more. It’s like asking if a singer of “happy birthday” truly wishes their subject to be happy.
In short, you Kant analyze pop music with confidence.
- BubbleRings
Funny. Take a simple pop song about apology and make an academic treatise on what a heartfelt apology looks like.
On the other end of the spectrum would be to summarize it in the shortest form with the simplest words, instead of with many and multi-syllable words. How about this (not mine, I’ve heard this in addiction recovery rooms, where apologies and amends are often discussed):
In the sentence “I’m sorry I did x, but you did y”, the word “but” means “disregard the above.”
- stonyrubbish
From a Hegelian perspective, the concept of the apology inherently is contradictory: for an apology before the act of harm has occurred is always "too early," yet an apology after the act has occurred is always, in some sense, "too late," ie, the harm has already been caused. We can see from this point that the apology is therefore never-on-time, always a spectre in the realm of human temporality. Also, I've never read Hegel (not that this disqualifies me from being a Hegelian.)
- henrydark
Song also proves Bieber is a dualist
"cause I'm missing more than just your body"
What else does she have that he misses?
- wj
That brought to mind this examination of Taylor Swift's Shake it Off:
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/taylor-swift-a-socratic-...