Posted: Aug 15, 2017 3:27 pm
GrahamH wrote:
That sounds like an accidental breakage. The relevant sense would be if you are confident she took some action knowing it was likely going to result in the loss of your favourite glass. She knew the consequences and did it anyway.
So here you are suggesting we don't blame people for accidents? If I were to run somebody over because of a momentary distraction ... clearly I am the proximate cause for the accident.
So the seriousness of the event seems to play into our scheme for blameworthiness
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GrahamH wrote:Lest say she decided to practice juggling for the first time and your favourite glasses were to hand as something to juggle, over a hard tile floor...
So intention also plays a role here: an ill considered choice of juggling implements?
GrahamH wrote: These are the cases where moral accountability and questions of free will apply, not accidents and unexpected consequences.
I would count 'punishment' here as raised voice, insults, cold shoulder, grumpiness, time apart etc There are lots of ways people express disapproval that affect the transgressor in ways they don't like. I'm not suggesting you would do any of those things to your wife.
What you describe here Graham are (or at least are for me) autonomic responses no more intentional than an accidental breakage of the glass. Though my wife would likely feel that they were punishing.
Punishment for me would have to have an intentional stance as well. Not that I couldn't do the above intentionally.