The Philosopher's Arms Moral Blame
Aug 16, 2013
Kit Davis, anthropologist giving historical and cultural context on slavery and race. Miranda Fricker, philosopher of ethics and epistemology analyzing blame, moral luck, and historical responsibility. They probe whether we should judge past figures, how moral standards shift, the role of ideology in slavery, apologies and reparations, and what future generations might condemn.
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Episode notes
Separate Moral Judgment From Historical Blame
- Moral blame and moral judgment can be separated from whether someone deserves blame given their historical context.
- Miranda Fricker argues we should judge agents by the best moral standards available to them, not merely by their era's received wisdom.
Challenge Outdated Views Even In Elders
- Challenge elderly or historically situated speakers when their views remain morally harmful rather than excusing them by age or era.
- Miranda Fricker suggests grandchildren should call out an elderly relative's morally daft remarks rather than leave them uncorrected.
Regret Without Blame For Past Practices
- People whose attitudes change with moral progress may feel regret but are not always blameworthy for past acts if those acts were widely accepted then.
- Fricker uses retired teachers who caned pupils to show regret can be appropriate without blame.