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Well Kant’s work certainly testified to the importance of separating the metaphysics of nature from the metaphysics of morals via the rational idea of freedom. Kant pointed out that when it comes to action one can view the self as a phenomenal object acting in an instrumental network of means and ends and the utility of the act is obviously an important aspect of this. Yet it is important to realise that this has nothing to do with our ethical evaluation of action which is an end in itself exactly because we are free to choose to do what we ought to do or not. In this process guilt plays an important role in the process of helping us to become the person we would like to be. This inner tribunal evaluating the worthiness of our action in accordance with our own conception of the person we would like to be, uses amongst other things guilt which is just a form of anxiety which in turn is a very useful emotion for bringing about what we desire for ourselves because it can also be used not to feel guilt but to feel disappointed with oneself because something good has been lost. The entire legal system is based on a judgement of being guilty indicating on the contrary that guilt is a very useful concept in either its subjective or objective form. Society relies on its citizens continually striving to improve their character. Guilt does not have to be an emotion it can be merely an internal judgement that one has not done what one ought to have done. Anxiety attenuates with maturity.