Apology and Compensation

Conflict pervades human life. In personal relationships and during criminal activity, in armed conflict and war, in oppressive and unjust states, people wrong their fellow human beings. After conflict amends must be made. Amends for the harms and wrongs of conflict can take many forms, most commonly apologies and compensation. But when, if ever, are apologies and compensation required or expected? Who ought to apologise? Do people have a right to an apology? Does a sincere apology require a change in character? Who ought to be compensated? What kind of suffering should be compensated and by whom? What grounds claims to compensation? Though particularly relevant to post-conflict situations, questions surrounding amends for harms and wrongs have received comparatively little attention within the ethics of war. Drawing on ongoing debates about moral responsibility and compensation in tort law, this workshop will help to advance our understanding of what morality requires after war ends.

This two-day workshop brings together scholars working on the morality of compensation and apology. Papers are pre-read and every paper will be assigned a commentator.