more from this thinker     |     more from this text

Single Idea 23590

[filed under theme 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 4. Responsibility for Actions ]

Full Idea

It is a feature of criminal responsibility that it can be distributed without being divided. We can, that is, blame more than one person for a particular act without splitting up the blame we assign.

Gist of Idea

Criminal responsibility can be fully assigned to each member of a group

Source

Michael Walzer (Just and Unjust Wars [1977], 19)

Book Ref

Walzer,Michael: 'Just and Unjust Wars' [Penguin 1984], p.309

A Reaction

How far can this extend? To a large violent mob? To an entire nation? In court the responsibility is usually adjusted in the sentencing, rather than in the initial verdict.

The 30 ideas with the same theme [whether motives were sufficiently good]:

5213 If you repent of an act done through ignorance, you acted involuntarily, not non-voluntarily [Aristotle]
4384 For Aristotle responsibility seems negative, in the absence of force or ignorance [Irwin on Aristotle]
22507 An action is voluntary when it is accompanied by thought of some kind [Aristotle]
23319 We are responsible if our actions reflect our motivation [Aristotle, by Frede,M]
14061 Our own choices are autonomous, and the basis for praise and blame [Epicurus]
23305 Stoics said responsibility depends on rationality [Stoic school, by Sorabji]
23325 Epictetus developed a notion of will as the source of our responsibility [Epictetus, by Frede,M]
5008 The greatest perfection of man is to act by free will, and thus merit praise or blame [Descartes]
5009 We do not praise the acts of an efficient automaton, as their acts are necessary [Descartes]
17202 We are the source of an action if only our nature can explain the action [Spinoza]
21865 We act when it follows from our nature, and is understood in that way [Spinoza]
21868 We love or hate people more strongly because we think they are free [Spinoza]
2224 Praise and blame can only be given if an action proceeds from a person's character and disposition [Hume]
22374 You can only hold people responsible for actions which arise out of their character [Hume]
20251 Actions done for a purpose are least understood, because we complacently think it's obvious [Nietzsche]
24127 Judging actions by intentions - like judging painters by their thoughts! [Nietzsche]
22500 Nietzsche failed to see that moral actions can be voluntary without free will [Foot on Nietzsche]
20324 My freedom increases as I broaden my vision of possiblities and motives [Jaspers]
23071 We could only be responsible if we had consented before birth to who we are [Cioran]
3442 Responsibility seems to conflict with events being either caused or not caused [Chisholm]
3443 Desires may rule us, but are we responsible for our desires? [Chisholm]
2174 Responsibility involves cause, intention, state of mind, and response after the event [Williams,B]
23590 Criminal responsibility can be fully assigned to each member of a group [Walzer]
23086 Liberals say we are only responsible for fully autonomous actions [Kekes]
23100 Collective responsibility conflicts with responsibility's requirement of authonomy [Kekes]
7096 We may still admire a person's character even if the traits are involuntary [Statman]
6663 People's actions are explained either by their motives, or their reasons, or the causes [Lowe]
20048 There may be a justification relative to a person's view, and yet no absolute justification [Stout,R]
20053 An action is only yours if you produce it, rather than some state or event within you [Stout,R]
23616 Legal excuses are duress, ignorance, and diminished responsibility [McMahan]
email your comments