Radboud University (Nijmegen, the Netherlands) is happy to organize a Symposium on Varieties of Holding Responsible. As a follow-up on Daphne Brandenburg’s dissertation defence (June 11) we’re happy to discuss the question of how we may hold people responsible when their capacities to abide by moral norms are underdeveloped or compromised.

In her dissertation, entitled The Nurturing Stance, Daphne focuses on individuals who cannot yet sufficiently respond to moral reasons in particular types of circumstances, but who 1) can become able to do so, and who 2) are receptive to moral instruction and moral correction. For example highly functioning autistic individuals, people with mild intellectual disability, children of a certain age, and people with borderline personality disorder will – under certain conditions and in particular types of circumstances – meet these criteria. How – if at all – are we to hold those individuals responsible for their objectionable conduct?

We have a marvelous line-up of speakers:

• Jeanette Kennett, Punisment and Resentment
• Michael McKenna, Punishment and the Value of Deserved Suffering
• Victoria McGeer, TBA
• Maureen Sie, Informal Social Punishment and Implicit Bias
• Gerben Meynen, Legal Insanity: Mental Illness and Excuse
• Daphne Brandenburg, The Nurturing Stance

All are welcome. No charge. But please do registrate by sending me an email: j.bransen@pwo.ru.nl