Talk:Culpability

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Note: It is my understanding that "purposely" corresponds to specific intent and "knowingly" to general intent. However, I have no real authority that says this, only the descriptions of the two different kinds of intent (since there is no real authority for definitions). Thus I cannot state this with confidance. However, it does appear to be the case. -- 69.162.34.100

Please vote. -- Sundar 05:10, Sep 14, 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Expansion request

Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (January 2007)

Talks only from the legal perspective. Needs contribution on moral perspective. -- Sundar 08:21, Sep 14, 2004 (UTC)

how about this?

The concept of culpability is descended from the Latin concept of fault (culpa) which is still used today in the phrase 'mea culpa' (my fault).

In explantions and predictions of human action and inaction culpability is a measure of the degree to which an agent, such as a person, can be held morally or legally responsible.

Culpability marks the dividing line between moral evil, like murder, for which someone may be held responsible and natural evil, like earthquakes, for which no one can be held responsible.

The concept of culpability is intimately tied up with notions of agency, freedom and freewill as all are necessary, but not sufficient conditions for culpability.

[edit] Cleaned up the new stuff

I think the new stuff is a good addition to the article. I wikified and reorganized it a bit to make it more coherent. mmmbeer^{T / C} 21:33, 27 October 2005 (UTC)

While we do need a section on the moral/philosophical meaning of "culpability," it is not as straightforward as the article makes it seem. In particular, some incompatibilists disagree with the assertion that free will is a necessary condition for culpability (e.g. Smilansky). There may also be a distinction between culpability and moral responsibility (see e.g. Fischer). Also, the distinction between "moral" and "natural" evil begs the question against those who do not believe in morality (e.g. Pereboom). I'd try to fix it myself, but I think there are as many different conceptions of culpability as there are philosophers. ^L_Wizard @ 06:44, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

US [[wp:Bias|bias]

The article needs content from other perspectives than just US law. Napoleonic code? English common law? Others?LeadSongDog 06:31, 19 September 2007 (UTC)