Moral Responsibility and Mental Illness: a Call for Nuance

AbstractDoes having a mental disorder, in general, affect whether someone is morally responsible for an action? Many people seem to think so, holding that mental disorders nearly always mitigate responsibility. Against this Na ïve view, we argue for a Nuanced account. The problem is not just that different theories of responsibility yield different verdicts about particular cases. Even when all reasonable theories agree about what’s relevant to responsibility, the ways mental illness can affect behavior are so varied t hat a more nuanced approach is needed.
Source: Neuroethics - Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research