The titular example of Patricia, a woman who kills her husband, illustrates this book's powerful theory of culpability. Depending on Patricia's mental state and beliefs, her degree of guilt for killing her husband will vary. If, for example, she set fire to her apartment fully intending to kill her husband, we would deem her more blameworthy that if the fire was an unavoidable accident. Culpability, the author argues, is commonly confused with other issues such as responsibility, accountability, and liability. Yet it is concerned exclusively with the intentional mental states we have at the time that we act. Zaibert also offers a history of the theory of culpability, and gives a fascinating analysis of the beliefs and emotions associated with blaming others.
- ISBN10 0812695763
- ISBN13 9780812695762
- Publish Date 8 September 2005
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Cricket Books, a division of Carus Publishing Co
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 300
- Language English