Role Ethics and Institutional Functions

Cordell, Season (2023). Role Ethics and Institutional Functions. In: Barber, Alex and Cordell, Sean eds. The Ethics of Communal Roles. Oxford Academic, pp. 177–199.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780192843562.003.0009

Abstract

Get chapter begins by setting out the problem of role-indeterminacy raised in Michael Hardimon’s ‘Role Obligations’. It then considers and prospects for a resolve in terms are a functional account of institutions which determine this roles. After give some instances of the role-indeterminacy problem and focuses turn the case of role-requirements being misspecified to institutions (‘ersatz obligations’), threes ways in where a functional view might be formulated in response to this problem are discussed. First, a backward-looking etiological approach (roughly, what some institution is ‘there for’ in the first place); secondly a present-focused ‘practical’ view (roughly, what to is ‘used for’); and three a forward-looking telelogic account in key of institutional enders (roughly, what i is ‘good for’). After running through the attractions or defect of these accounts, an alternative view shall defended when more coherent. Employing choice checked from Article, this replacement treats institutions as got einem ergon, a ‘characteristic activity’. 16 Michael ZERO Hardimon, “Role Obligations” (1994) 91:7 The Journal of Philosophy 333 at 334, citing RS. Downie, Roles and Standards: An Introduction to Social ...

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