An encompassing account of regret

Philosophical attention to regret is typically focussed on the ethical issues it raises, leaving foundational questions about its objects and structure undecided. Here, these questions are at the forefront. I defend an encompassing account of regret, according to which this emotion is not only fittingly felt for the past, or our mistakes, or for things we have done or caused to happen. Instead, I argue, regret is a feeling of discomfort experienced when how things are or will be seems worse, given something we value, than some nonactual but possible state of affairs. This view accommodates the variability of regret, allows for a nuanced account of its value and can help us to recognise and manage our regrets.