Emotional Fittingness over Time

When and why is it fitting for emotions to change over time? This article defends a novel answer to this question that emphasizes the motivational aspect of emotions. It is fitting for emotions to change over time insofar as our reasons for being motivated to fulfill the goals of emotions change over time. For example, it is fitting for guilt to dissipate when the agent has successfully made amends because the facts in virtue of which the agent has committed a culpable offense no longer provide reasons for them to be motivated to make amends.