Posted by Jost on September 22, 2006, at 18:32:42
In reply to Re: Blame - Trigger, posted by alexandra_k on September 22, 2006, at 18:04:53
I've tried to think about this issue re: the holocaust, or Ruanda, or Darfur.
Esp. in view of the Milgram experiments.
About the only thing I've come up to is that moral culpability exists and is important.
For one thing, it allows us say that those who do certain things are guilty-- ie are moral actors.
It's possible that the only difference between me and someone who did various horrible things is historical luck-- they had the bad luck to be in a terrible situation, and to be forced to make terrible choices. I have the historical luck not to be.
But ultimately, while I'm grateful for my historical luck, and hope it lasts, I can't reach the point where I don't blame those who make really horrible choices and do horrible things. Wherever in the world, whenever in the world--in intimate settings and as part of grand social events.
Does my blaming them do any good? who knows? It's hard to believe that not blaming them, and considering them simply as not responsible for their acts would do more, or be a more enlightened position.
Jost
poster:Jost
thread:686272
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060911/msgs/688257.html