Responsibility without Free Will

Abstract

It is stated that if we properly understand the notion of justice, we can make room for judgments of moral responsibility and accountability without having to reassure ourselves that human beings have free will. In a virtual ethic framework, the author argues that if we understand moral obligation and social justice as calling for certain sorts of practical attitudes, or motivations, on the part of individuals and citizens, we can obviate the question of free will and still deal credibly and responsibly with issues of genetic predisposition for criminal behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved) (from the chapter)