PY4654 Responsibility, Praise, and Blame

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

To be confirmed.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof J A Brown

Prof J A Brown
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Professor J Brown

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Ordinarily, we blame people for doing wrong and praise them for doing the right thing. But what is it to blame someone or praise them? And under what conditions is someone worthy of blame or praise for their actions or attitudes? This module aims to look at the nature of blame and what it is to be blameworthy, as well as how one ought to act under conditions of ignorance or uncertainty. It seems that ignorance sometimes excuses wrong-doing. For instance, one might break a promise to pick up a friend from the airport and yet be blameless, due to ignorance (say because one's friend misinformed one which airport she's arriving at). Under what conditions does ignorance excuse and what type of ignorance excuses (factual vs. ormative)? Further, how should one act when one is not sure what is the correct morality?

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS PY1006 OR PASS PY1012

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 hour lectures (11 weeks), 1 hour seminar (11 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

55

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

252

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Evaluate different views about what it is to be morally responsible and (potentially) blameworthy, as well as how these different views relate to the debate about whether responsibility and free will are compatible with determinism
  • Analyse and debate the implications of these different views about moral responsibility for a variety of 'hard' cases including whether psychopaths are blameworthy for their actions
  • Critically articulate the nature of blame, forgiveness and reconciliation
  • Critically evaluate a range of views about the conditions under which ignorance excuses and whether these vary depending on the kind of ignorance in question (factual or normative)
  • Assess what it is to be praiseworthy for an action
  • Critically evaluate a variety of different views about the conditions under which groups can be responsible and blameworthy and the advantages and disadvantages of these views