Moral Responsibility and Mental Health: An Interdisciplinary Project in Philosophy, Psychology, and Applied Behavior Analysis

Abstract

In this dissertation, I draw from the fields of philosophy, psychology, and applied behavior analysis in order to present what I take to be a necessary condition for morally responsible agency, the Integrated Mental Status condition (IMS). I offer a view that privileges the mental status of the agent above other conditions when considering moral responsibility. I do this within a conceptual framework that takes moral responsibility to exist on a continuum and assessments of moral responsibility to be deeply contextual and localized to a time. Additionally, I make an argument for how and why finding and holding responsible can and should come apart in an analysis of moral responsibility.

A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Philosophy in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Philosophy.

Spring Semester, 2015.

March 30, 2015.

applied behavior analysis, Integrated Mental Status condition, mental health, moral responsibility, philosophy, psychology

Includes bibliographical references.

Randolph Clarke, Professor Directing Dissertation; Martin Kavka, University Representative; Michael Bishop, Committee Member; David McNaughton, Committee Member.