'Dirty Hands': Guilt and Regret in Moral Reasoning. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gingles, Dallas J.
• Is Part Of: Studies in Christian ethics. Volume 36:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: 107
• Page End: 122
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: Nigel Biggar -- dirty hands -- guilt -- regret -- moral emotions -- moral reasoning; Christian ethics -- Periodicals; Morale chrétienne -- Périodiques; 241.05
• DOI: 10.1177/09539468221116300
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-9468

Abstract

Nigel Biggar argues against 'dirty hands' reasoning for two reasons. The first is that dirty hands reasoning is paradoxical. The second is that 'dirt' in dirty hands is often—and wrongly—conceived as guilt. According to Biggar, the dirt should instead be understood as regret. In this article, I defend dirty hands reasoning against both criticisms. On the one hand, I argue that dirty hands reasoning is not necessarily paradoxical. On the other, I argue that, because guilt, more than regret, is meant to motivate the agent we should prefer a prima facie interpretation of the 'dirt' in dirty hands as guilt instead of regret.