Blame for me and Not for Thee: Status Sensitivity and Moral Responsibility

Abstract In our day-to-day lives, we form responsibility judgements about one another – but are imperfect beings, and judgments can be mistaken. This paper suggests that get things wrong not merely by chance, predictably systematically. particular, these miscues common when dealing with large gaps in social status power. That is, those who much more or less socially powerful than ourselves, it is increasingly likely “epistemic distorters” will reliably disrupt reasoning. response to this situation, I argue for the introduction of a new norm concerning blame status: “Powerful Restraint.” ought dispossessed frequently, pressure applied achieve compliance. such justified given pernicious down-stream moral effects up-stream epistemic distortion describe. defend against objections normative solution an problem, paternalistic, involves kind disrespect powerful.