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One mark of interpersonal relationships is a tendency to blame. But what precise evaluations and responses constitute blame? Is it most centrally a judgment, or is it an emotion, or something else? Does blame express a demand, or embody a protest, or does it simply mark an impaired relationship? What accounts for its force or sting, and how similar is it to punishment?The essays in this volume explore answers to these (and other) questions about the nature of blame, but they also explore the various norms that govern the propriety of blame. The traditional question is whether anyone ever deserves to be blamed, but the essays here provide a fresh perspective by focusing on blame from the blamer's perspective instead. Is our tendency to blame a vice, something we should work to replace with more humane ways of relating, or does it rather lie at the very heart of a commitment to morality? What can we legitimately expect of each other, and in general, what sort of attitude do would-be blamers need to have in order to have the standing to blame? Hypocritical or self-righteous blame seems objectionable, but why?The contributions to this volume aim to give us a fuller picture of the nature and norms of blame, and more generally of the promises and perils of membership in the human moral community.
This volume investigates the fundamental nature of blame and the ethical norms that govern its application in interpersonal relationships. Edited by D. Justin Coates, the collection gathers diverse philosophical perspectives to examine whether blame functions primarily as a moral judgment, an emotional response, or a social protest. By shifting the focus from the blameworthiness of the recipient to the standing and motivations of the blamer, the contributors analyze the moral implications of our tendency to hold others accountable.
What You Will Find
Experts view this collection as a significant contribution to contemporary moral philosophy, particularly for its focus on the agency of the blamer. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which makes it a valuable resource for students and scholars of ethics.
Page Count:
318
Publication Date:
2012-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN-10:
019986084X
ISBN-13:
9780199860845
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