Abstract: Abstract Externalism about responsibility or obligation is the view that how one acquires apt antecedents of action, such as beliefs, desires, and values, may influence whether one is responsible for, or morally obligated to do, something. Externalism implies that the history of how one procures one’s springs of action may affect responsibility (or obligation). What are called “radical reversal cases” in the philosophical literature, which feature invasively manipulating an agent without the agent’s awareness of being manipulated, are invoked to support responsibility externalism. It is argued that such cases do not sustain obligation externalism. Hence, obligation is not historical in the way responsibility is. A hypothesis is offered to explain this difference. Appraisals of responsibility are agent-focused appraisals: agents are the primary objects of appraisal. Radical unsolicited changes in an agent’s mental repertoire can affect responsibility. In contrast, appraisals of obligation are act-focused: agents’ behavior is the fundamental object of appraisal. Radical changes in an agent’s psychological life need not have the relevant sort of bearing on her obligations.
Publication Year: 2023
Publication Date: 2023-02-23
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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