Moral Dilemmas, Collective Responsibility, and Moral Progress

Philosophical Studies, Vol. 104, pp. 203-225, 2001

26 Pages Posted: 6 Dec 2011

See all articles by Patricia Marino

Patricia Marino

University of Waterloo - Department of Philosophy

Date Written: November 14, 2000

Abstract

Ruth Marcus has offered an account of moral dilemmas in which the presence of dilemmas acts as a motivating force, pushing us to try to minimize predicaments of moral conflict. In this paper, I defend a Marcus-style account of dilemmas against two objections: first, that if dilemmas are real, we are forced to blame those who have done their best, and second, that in some cases, even a stripped down version of blame seems inappropriate. My account highlights the importance of collective responsibility in understanding dilemmas, and I suggest that it sheds light on understanding moral progress.

Keywords: moral dilemmas, collective responsibility, moral progress, moral conflict

Suggested Citation

Marino, Patricia, Moral Dilemmas, Collective Responsibility, and Moral Progress (November 14, 2000). Philosophical Studies, Vol. 104, pp. 203-225, 2001, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1969048

Patricia Marino (Contact Author)

University of Waterloo - Department of Philosophy ( email )

200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
Canada

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