more on this theme | more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
Liberals deny the reflexivity of evil, …to prevent the evil consequences of an agent's morally deplorable actions from redounding to their detriment. Evil actions are allowed to reflect on their agents only if the agents cause them autonomously.
Gist of Idea
It is said that if an agent is not autonomous then their evil actions don't reflect on their character
Source
John Kekes (Against Liberalism [1997], 03.5)
Book Ref
Kekes,John: 'Against Liberalism' [Cornell 1997], p.68
A Reaction
A central question of morality is essentialising character. That is, when does an eater of carrots become a carrot-eater? When does a performer of wicked deeds become a wicked person? Never, say many liberals. Wrong, says Kekes.