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Questions for a Science of Moral Responsibility

Fischborn, Marcelo (2018) Questions for a Science of Moral Responsibility. Review of Philosophy and Psychology, 9 (2). pp. 381-394. ISSN 1878-5158

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Abstract

In the last few decades, the literature on moral responsibility has been increasingly populated by scientific studies. Studies in neuroscience and psychology, in particular, have been claimed to be relevant for discussions about moral responsibility in a number of ways. And at the same time, there is not yet a systematic understanding of the sort of questions a science of moral responsibility is supposed to answer. This paper is an attempt to move toward such an understanding. I discuss three models for framing scientific questions relevant to an investigation of moral responsibility. The favored model—the Enhancement model—proposes that a science of moral responsibility has two descriptive tasks. First, science can describe the causes and effects of the many sorts of responses that constitute the human practices of moral responsibility, such as praise, blame, and punishment. And, second, science can describe how modifications aiming at the improvement of such practices can be achieved. Relatively to the other models to be considered, the Enhancement model is broader in scope and less tied to the traditional philosophical agenda on moral responsibility.


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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Fischborn, Marcelo0000-0002-0410-5251
Keywords: moral responsibility; moral psychology
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Cognitive Neuroscience
Specific Sciences > Psychology > Judgment and Decision Making
General Issues > Science and Society
Specific Sciences > Psychology > Social Psychology
Depositing User: Marcelo Fischborn
Date Deposited: 25 Mar 2023 16:54
Last Modified: 25 Mar 2023 16:54
Item ID: 21904
Journal or Publication Title: Review of Philosophy and Psychology
Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1007/s13164-017-0360-5
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1007/s13164-017-0360-5
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Cognitive Neuroscience
Specific Sciences > Psychology > Judgment and Decision Making
General Issues > Science and Society
Specific Sciences > Psychology > Social Psychology
Date: 2018
Page Range: pp. 381-394
Volume: 9
Number: 2
ISSN: 1878-5158
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/21904

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