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Blaming friends.

Authors :
Scholten, Matthé
Source :
Philosophical Studies; May2022, Vol. 179 Issue 5, p1545-1562, 18p
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to shed light on the complex relations between friendship and blame. In the first part, I show that to be friends is to have certain evaluative, emotional and behavioral dispositions toward each other, and distinguish between two kinds of norms of friendship, namely friendship-based obligations and friendship-constituting rules. Friendship-based obligations tag actions of friends as obligatory, permissible or wrong, whereas friendship-constituting rules specify conditions that, if met, make it so that two persons stand in a particular type of relationship defined by various friendship-based obligations. I argue that whereas friendship-based obligations apply to actions under direct voluntary control, friendship-constituting rules apply to emotional and evaluative attitudes. The second part develops an account of friendship blame by comparing Scanlon's account of blame with Wallace's Strawsonian account of blame. I demonstrate that Scanlon's account picks out responses that become appropriate when friends' attitudes are not in agreement with friendship-constituting rules, whereas Wallace's account picks out responses that become appropriate when friends violate friendship-based obligations. Arguing that the responses picked out by Scanlon's account do not amount to blame, I show that, when combined, the views give an illuminating picture of possible reactions to friends who fall short of the standards of friendship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00318116
Volume :
179
Issue :
5
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Philosophical Studies
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
157212452
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11098-021-01718-w