Abstract

In this chapter I review the related concepts of moral responsibility and blame. I zoom in on the specific sense of moral responsibility that concerns this investigation and some approaches to it, especially attributionism. I also discuss different ways of conceptualising blame and offer a working understanding of it as conflicting responses to wrongdoers in light of their wrongdoing. The chapter thereby isolates the sense of responsibility and blame that will inform the investigation in later chapters and develops important contrasts between different ways of responding to wrongdoers.