Moral Responsibility
What Is Moral Responsibility?
Definition
Moral responsibility
Moral responsibility refers to the obligation to act ethically and the accountability for one's actions.
- Moral Agents: Individuals capable of making ethical decisions and understanding the consequences.
- Accountability: Being answerable for one's actions, especially when they affect others.
Moral responsibility is often linked to free will, as it assumes individuals can choose their actions.
The Role of Moral Responsibility in Defining Humanity
- Moral Agency: The ability to make ethical decisions is often seen as a defining feature of being human.
- Ethical Frameworks: Many philosophical traditions emphasize moral responsibility as central to human identity.
In Kantian ethics, moral responsibility is grounded in the ability to act according to universal moral laws, such as the categorical imperative.
Moral Agency and Personhood
- Moral Agency: The capacity to make ethical decisions and be held accountable.
- Personhood: The status of being a person, often linked to moral agency.
