James F. Miller Professor of Humanities & Professor of Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, Lewis & Clark College

Grand Theft Auto and Moral Guilt

Added on by jay odenbaugh.

In video games like Grand Theft Auto, one does extremely violent things including brutally killing others in the game. Normally, video games can causes us to feel a variety of emotions such as anger, joy, etc. However, few gamers feel guilt or shame about the simulated violence they commit. 

First, how can video games cause us to feel certain emotions like anger but not others like guilt and shame? 

Second, should gamers who play these games feel shame or guilt for the violence they committed in these video games?