Moral Responsibility

1
Moral Responsibility

• Excusability we are not morally responsible if
• the consequences of actions are unexpected
• actions are constrained by external threats or
  uncontrollable internal forces
• consequences of acts are beyond our control
• we do not have the ability or opportunity to do
  otherwise

2
Moral Responsibility (continued)

• Determinism/Libertarianism/Compatibilism
• Determinism we are not morally responsible
  because our actions are not really free
• Libertarianism we are morally responsible
  because our actions are based on reasons (not
  causes) over which we have control
• Compatibilism we are morally responsible when
  our actions are caused by our choices if caused
  by other forces, we are not responsible

3
Principles of a Moral Code

• A set of values becomes a persons moral code
  only as a result of personal reflection
• Ethical behavior is based on wanting to do the
  right thing, not simply acting because we were
  raised a certain way or people expect it
• Considering the consequences of our actions helps
  us determine the moral value of actions

4
Social Philosophy

• Social philosophy is not ethics, because it is
  not concerned with identifying a norm of good
  conduct nor is it politics, because it is not
  concerned with describing how power is expressed
  in institutions. Instead, it evaluates
  institutional power in terms of moral principles
• Issues how are individuals related to society?
  how is State authority justified?
• what is the role of government and law? what are
  justice, civil rights, freedom?