As I endeavour to gain a fuller understanding of shame, what it is and what it means it seems salient to understand the opposite of it. If I can understand the opposite of shame then I should be able to understand shame in a more complete way.
Evan says "My guess is that the opposite of shame is actually honour. This has the ability to take in the sense of relating to the community which I think is essential to a definition of shame." (end quote)
I think you make a good point Evan. Since writing this post I have though some more about shame and pride and I tend to agree with you that shame and pride may not be so opposite after all. Your idea of honour is an interesting one.
When you look at emotions overall maybe shame is quite unique in this way, of having an opposite. For example what is the opposite of anger. One could say maybe calm or happy or relaxed. But one could say the same about sad and anxious as well. So they are not opposites like pride or honour are.
As I was reading the book, which I can’t even remember what it was now, it was just one of those sentences that you seem to notice and sticks in the mind. Feelings having opposites.
Here are some defintions of pride:
the state or feeling of being proud.
a becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one's position or character; self-respect; self-esteem.
pleasure or satisfaction taken in something done by or belonging to oneself or believed to reflect credit upon oneself
the best of a group, class, society
the most flourishing state or period
splendor, magnificence, or pomp.
ornament or adornment.
pride and joy, someone or something cherished, valued, or enjoyed above all others
Now all I have to do is work out what is the opposite of these.
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