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Responsibility from the Margins David Shoemaker (Tulane University)

Responsibility from the Margins By David Shoemaker (Tulane University)

Responsibility from the Margins by David Shoemaker (Tulane University)


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Summary

David Shoemaker develops a novel pluralistic theory of responsibility, motivated by our ambivalence to cases of marginal agency-such as those caused by clinical depression or autism, for instance. He identifies three distinct types of responsibility, each with its own set of required capacities: attributability, answerability, and accountability.

Responsibility from the Margins Summary

Responsibility from the Margins by David Shoemaker (Tulane University)

David Shoemaker presents a new pluralistic theory of responsibility, based on the idea of quality of will. His approach is motivated by our ambivalence to real-life cases of marginal agency, such as those caused by clinical depression, dementia, scrupulosity, psychopathy, autism, intellectual disability, and poor formative circumstances. Our ambivalent responses suggest that such agents are responsible in some ways but not others. Shoemaker develops a theory to account for our ambivalence, via close examination of several categories of pan-cultural emotional responsibility responses (sentiments) and their appropriateness conditions. The result is three distinct types of responsibility, each with its own set of required capacities: attributability, answerability, and accountability. Attributability is about the having and expressing of various traits of character, and it is the target of a range of aretaic sentiments and emotional practices organized around disdain and admiration. Answerability is about one's capacity to govern one's actions and attitudes by one's evaluative judgments about the worth of various practical reasons, and it is the target of a range of sentiments and emotional practices organized around regret and pride. Accountability is about one's ability to regard others, both evaluatively and emotionally, and it is the target of a range of sentiments and emotional practices organized around anger and gratitude. In Part One of the book, this tripartite theory is developed and defended. In Part Two of the book, the tripartite theory's predictions about specific marginal cases are tested, once certain empirical details about the nature of those agents have been filled in and discussed.

Responsibility from the Margins Reviews

Shoemaker gives a sophisticated treatment of a wide variety of marginal agents. His nuanced case studies will provide an invaluable resource for any further work on the real-world conundrums of responsibility. * Daniel Cohen, Australasian Journal of Philosophy *
David Shoemaker's excellent book is an admirably careful, imaginative, and detailed account of a pluralistic account of responsibility . . .This is a wonderful book, and there are layers of value to be had from it. Shoemaker's theory is rich and provocative; his survey and analysis of the empirical research is exemplary. His discussion of the use and misuse of the moral/ conventional task is a particular standout. In many of his discussions, Shoemaker is breaking new ground, enriching the field with new examples and areas to consider. This book is a major contribution. * Christopher W. Gowans, Ethics *
Shoemaker's approach will certainly influence how debates about moral responsibility unfold in the coming years. * Matthew Talbert, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *
It is both technically precise as well as clear and accessible, and should be of interest to philosophers, psychological theorists, mental health professionals and caregivers to those who fit the marginal label. It breaks new ground in the philosophy of responsibility by drawing important distinctions between types of attitudes associated with responsibility that have long been overlooked and has major practical significance due to the inclusion of suggestions for how our ways of treating marginal agents can be improved . . . Responsibility from the Margins is a refreshing new take on an old philosophical issue that also provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary presentation of new work on the moral emotions and related psychiatric disorders. Anyone who thinks about such issues or has marginal agents in their life, and is unsure of how to relate to those individuals, should find it valuable. * Ben Abelson, Metapsychology Online Reviews *

About David Shoemaker (Tulane University)

David Shoemaker is Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy & Murphy Institute at Tulane University. He is the author of numerous articles on agency and moral responsibility, normative and applied ethics, and personal identity, and he is the general editor of the series Oxford Studies in Agency and Responsibility.

Table of Contents

PART ONE: THE TRIPARTITE THEORY OF RESPONSIBILITY; PART TWO: AMBIVALENCE AT THE MARGINS

Additional information

GOR013514789
9780198801184
0198801181
Responsibility from the Margins by David Shoemaker (Tulane University)
Used - Very Good
Paperback
Oxford University Press
20170803
282
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

Customer Reviews - Responsibility from the Margins