Hey Western Washington!

Dear Friends of the Seattle G. K. Chesterton Society,

We cordially invite you to our final lecture of the season, this Thursday evening, May 28, at 7:30 PM in Conference room 109, Otto Miller Hall, at Seattle Pacific University. Otto Miller Hall is located near the corner of Nickerson and Third Avenue West, across the street from the Royal Brougham Pavilion.

Thursday, May 28, 2009, at 7:30 PM in Conference room 109, Otto Miller Hall

*Why You Might Be to Blame, But Not for Anything You’ve Done*
*Dr. Rebekah Rice*
Department of Philosophy, Seattle Pacific University

It is natural to think that persons should sometimes be held morally responsible for the actions they perform. But is it right to hold them morally responsible for their non-actions? Suppose you ask me to feed your dog while you’re away on vacation, and I agree to do so. But then I don’t feed it, and the dog becomes ill. When you return, you are understandably upset. But what did I do, exactly, to warrant your response? Did I cause your dog to become ill? I will argue that I did no such thing. And yet, I will insist that, although I did not cause your dog to become ill, you are correct to blame me for the dog’s unfortunate state. Scripture tells us that “anyone…who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.” (James 5:17, NRSV) This talk will discuss how it is that we can be right in holding persons morally accountable for actions they fail to perform.

The directors and I thank all of you who have made this season so rewarding, and we look forward to seeing you this Thursday for our usual stimulating lecture and conversation!

Yours faithfully,

The Seattle Chesterton Society

Don’t miss it if you can!