IGNORANCE AND FORCE: TWO EXCUSING CONDITIONS FOR FALSE BELIEFS

It has been widely recognized that a theory of responsibility must allow for the fact that in certain conditions agents are excused for not doing what they ought to do (or for doing what they ought not to do)--and accordingly that they cannot be held responsible (and so, blamed) for what they did not, or did, do. Such conditions are called excusing conditions. Here, van Woudenberg shows that the very same conditions that can excuse agents for not doing what they ought to do (or for doing what they ought not to do), also can excuse them for having false beliefs. He stresses that as an afterthought it is suggested that this is a reason for thinking that humans can sometimes be held responsible (and so, blamed) for what they believe. He reveals that the two widely acknowledged excusing conditions are nonculpable ignorance and force.