Forms of Exculpation: Nature and Norms of Blamelessness

March 12, 2026 - March 13, 2026
Institut für Philosophie, Humboldt University of Berlin

Unter den Linden 6
Berlin 10117
Germany

This will be an accessible event, including organized related activities

View the Call For Papers

Speakers:

Humboldt University, Berlin
Université de Neuchâtel
University of Edinburgh
(unaffiliated)
University of Salzburg

Organisers:

Humboldt University, Berlin

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This workshop is aimed at discussing questions regarding the relationship between prescriptive and hypological notions in the normative, with a specific focus on conceptual issues regarding excuses and exemptions. It is a familiar fact of life that agents can be exculpated through a variety of factors, ranging from ignorance, over duress, to permanent impairment of their rational facilities. Sometimes, these various factors are taken to directly affect what an agent ought to do, at other times, they are taken to constitute excuses for (nonetheless wrong) actions. Contributions to this workshop will deal with the question of how to best theoretically capture the various forms of exculpation, combining perspectives from ethics, epistemology and legal philosophy.

We have reserved a small number of slots for early-career researchers (including advanced PhD students) working on related issues. These will be selected from anonymized submissions based on quality and fit for the workshop theme. We have secured funds to reimburse travel fees of up to 300€ but unfortunately cannot cover accommodation costs (though we are happy to suggest affordable options within proximity to the workshop venue).

Call for Abstracts: https://philevents.org/event/show/143574

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