The Strawsons Flashcards
Which Strawson is the SON?
Galen Strawson
Which Strawson is the PARENT?
P.F. Strawson
What’s Galen Strawson’s basic argument?
Doesn’t believe moral responsibility is a thing
Galen Strawson’s reasoning for his basic argument
To be morally responsible, one has to act for a reason, one’s reason for acting has to come from one’s mental state, to be morally responsible one must choose the mental state they’re in, no one can choose the mental states they’re in (choosing the sort of person you are)
Can’t choose your genetics or the situations you were put in
Example of Galen Strawson’s basic argument
Impulse to commit crimes is the same as impulse to do anything else (genetic)
What is P.F. Strawson’s argument?
Moral responsibility is a thing
(P.F. Strawson) What is moral responsibility as a practice?
Moral responsibility is a social practice we all engage in, holding people accountable for their actions when they express a will towards us
(P.F. Strawson) What is a reactive attitude?
Attitudes when we assume how other people react to us is an expression for what will they have towards us
(P.F. Strawson) What is an objective attitude?
Suspending our typical reactions to others and treating them as a thing to be studied
(P.F. Strawson) Example of a reactive attitude
Getting angry/upset at someone for spilling coffee on you
(P.F. Strawson) Example of an objective attitude
Holding off anger because you found out the person’s dog died that day
(P.F. Strawson) How do reactive attitudes relate to relationships?
Central to having relationships with one another, letting them know their actions express a will
(P.F. Strawson) How do objective attitudes relate to relationships?
Can’t have a close loving relationship if you just have objective attitudes towards them
