DPhil Seminar (Wednesday - Week 6, MT26)

Abstract: In this talk I want to provide a framework for understanding collective apologies. I will start from a functionalist approach to interpersonal apologies, which I develop elsewhere, and argue that this can be generalised to collective apologies. The starting point is the idea that the characteristic function of an apology is to provide a basis for repairing relationships of the relevant type. An apology can provide such a basis primarily by being a way of taking responsibility and (re)building trust. For collective apologies, I want to suggest, they provide this basis for repair primarily by being a way of taking collective responsibility and providing the ground for (re)building trust in the collective. In developing this account, I’ll also advance a view of collective responsibility and collective trust, specifically trust in institutions.

Registration: If you do not hold a university card, please contact the seminar convenor or admin@philosophy.ox.ac.uk at least two working days before a seminar to register your attendance.

See the DPhil Seminar website for details.

_{DPhil Seminar Convenor: Tom Heywood}