Praise and Blame

Question 1

Merit-based view of praise and blame

Answer 1

Praise and blame are appropriate reactions towards a given individual if and only if she merits (deserves) such a reaction

Question 2

Consequence-based view of praise and blame

Answer 2

Praise and blame are appropriate reactions towards a given individual if and only if a reaction of this sort would likely lead to a desired change in the agent and their behaviour

Question 3

By who are merit-based views often adopted by?

Answer 3

Incompatibilists

Question 4

The hard-determinist/merit-based argument against praise and blame

Answer 4

1. Praise and blame are appropriate reactions towards an individual if and only if they merit such a reaction
2. Individuals merit such reactions if and only if they act of their own free will
3. Given determinism, no one acts of their own free will
   Therefore 4. Individuals should not be praised/blamed

Question 5

Who adopts a consequence-based view?

Answer 5

Compatibilists and incompatibilists

Question 6

Why do both compatibilists and incompatibilists adopt a consequence-based view?

Answer 6

Because it is not a necessary condition of generating a desired change in an agent/their behaviour that they possess free will

Question 7

Conclusion of consequence-based argument for praise and blame

Answer 7

Whether determinism is true and no one is able to act of their own free will (incompatibilism), or whether determinism is true and some people are able to act of their own free will (compatibilism), praise and blame are still an appropriate reaction towards and individual

Question 8

Pessimists

Answer 8

Merit-based incompatibilists

Question 9

What do pessimists believe?

Answer 9

Praise and blame are appropriate reactions towards a given individual if and only if she merits such a reaction and if determinism is true, no one acts of their own free will

Question 10

Optimists

Answer 10

Consequence-based theorists

Question 11

What do optimists believe?

Answer 11

Praise and blame are appropriate reactions towards a given individual if and only if a reaction of this sort would likely lead to a desired change in the agent and/or her behaviour

Question 12

What does Strawson want the optimist and pessimist to do?

Answer 12

The pessimist to make a formal withdrawal and the optimist to make a vital concession

Question 13

What does Strawson think about the optimists argument?

Answer 13

It is an inadequate account and leaves out something vital

Question 14

What does Strawson think about the pessimists argument?

Answer 14

The pessimist overreaches

Question 15

Reactive attitudes

Answer 15

Attitudes to which we are prone, by virtue of our relationships with others, and their actions/intentions towards us

Question 16

What could you understand the disagreement between optimists and pessimists as?

Answer 16

A disagreement about what sort of things could justify our reactive attitudes

Question 17

What are the two types of reactive attitudes?

Answer 17

Impersonal and personal reactive attitudes

Question 18

Impersonal reactive attitudes

Answer 18

Attitudes we may hold despite having a certain detachment from the action/agents, such attitudes may be belief someone ought to be punished/praised/blamed etc

Question 19

Personal reactive attitudes

Answer 19

Non-detached attitudes we have when we are directly involved with the action of an agent, such attitudes may be gratitude, resentment, forgiveness, love, hurt feelings etc.

Question 20

Why does Strawson argue for focusing on ‘personal’ reactive attitudes

Answer 20

Because there are less disputants that the issue of impersonal reactive attitudes and the issue may be easier to settle and help settle the one of impersonal reactive attitudes

Question 21

What are the two attitudes Strawson distinguishes between?

Answer 21

Participatory and objective attitude

Question 22

Participatory attitude

Answer 22

Attitude to another human that Strawson describes as an attitude of involvement or participation in a human relationship

Question 23

Objective attitude

Answer 23

Attitude to another human that Strawson describes as an attitude that sees them as an object of social policy

Question 24

What does the objective attitude exclude?

Answer 24

Personal reactive attitudes

Question 25

Strawson’s argument against optimism

Answer 25

1. For the pessimist to secure the practice of praise and blame, it needs to maintain the view of people as participants within a moral community.
2. If our view of people as participants within a moral community is to hold, it needs to include
   personal reactive attitudes.
3. In adopting an objective attitude toward others, optimism excludes the possibility of
   personal reactive attitudes.
   Therefore
4. Optimism renders an adequate defence of the kinds of concepts and practices the pessimist wants to secure
   impossible.

Question 26

What is the concession Strawson wants the optimist to make?

Answer 26

To make personal reactive attitudes a part of their picture

Question 27

What does Strawson argue reactive attitudes are?

Answer 27

Natural and irrevocable, a central part of being human

Question 28

Attitudes we express when holding someone responsible derive from?

Answer 28

Our personal relationships

Question 29

When can reactive attitudes be suspended/modified?

Answer 29

If it was an accident or the behaviour was justified

Question 30

If the individual is considered as psychologically/morally abnormal (e.g. mentally ill/young child) what position do we adopt?

Answer 30

An objective standpoint

Question 31

What does strawson argue about consequentialist and merit-based views on morality?

Answer 31

They are over- intellectualised, reactive attitudes are natural and do not call for external/rational justification

Question 32

Justification should refer to an account of reactive attitudes in personal relationships not..

Answer 32

An independent theory of the conditions of responsibility

Question 33

What does Strawson argue about the debate on responsibility and determinism?

Answer 33

It is pointless, reactive attitudes and the participant standpoint possess no truth value and need no external justification

Question 34

What is Strawson’s main contribution to moral responsibility?

Answer 34

The addition of reactive attitudes

Question 35

What is Strawson’s advance on moral responsibility?

Answer 35

Determinism doesn’t pose a threat to moral responsibility

Question 36

Why is it natural for humans to assign blame?

Answer 36

Humans are inseparable from emotions