In Moral Responsibility in the Holocaust, David H. Jones goes beyond historical and psychological explanations of the Holocaust to directly address the moral responsibility of individuals involved in it. While defending the view that individuals caught up in large-scale historical events like the Holocaust are still responsible for their choices, he provides the philosophical tools needed to assess the responsibility, both negative and positive, of perpetrators, accomplices, bystanders, victims, helpers, and rescuers.
David H. Jones is professor of philosophy emeritus at The College of William & Mary.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Acknolwedgements Chapter 3 Introduction Part 4 1 The Ethics of Responsibility Chapter 5 1 Moral Responsibility Chapter 6 2 Moral Character Chapter 7 3 Excuses Chapter 8 4 Self-Deception Part 9 2 Application of the Ethics of Responsibility to Problems Raised by the Holocaust Chapter 10 5 Political Culture, Socialization, and Responsiblity Chapter 11 6 The Principal Perpetrator: Adolpfh Hitler Chapter 12 7 Perpetrators: The Men in Police Battalions Chapter 13 8 Victims Chapter 14 9 Helpers, Rescuers, and Bystanders Chapter 15 Conclusion Chapter 16 About the Author Chapter 17 Index
What People are Saying About This
Frank Fair
Jones does an excellent job of connecting the fundamental ethical ideas about character and responsiblity to specfic situations faced in those grim times.
Roger W. Smith
Lucid, thorough, original. This insightful and sensitive study will be of interest to students, scholars, and anyone concerned with guilt, responsibility, and the Holocaust.
David Evans
This book is a serious contribtion to current moral philosophy. It should certainly be on the agenda of all pilosophers and teachers who are concerned with deep issues of value where matters of life and death are raised.
