Coffee and Casuistry: It Doesn’t Matter Who Caused What

Abstract

In ‘Moral Rights and Causal Casuistry’ [2], Eric Mack argues that if I poison your coffee and you know it is poisoned but drink it any way of your own free will, but without intending to be poisoned, for example to collect on a bet, I am causally and morally responsible for your ensuing condition as a result of my poisoning the coffee. This is contrary to the Hart and Honoré [1] position that I am responsible for your ensuing condition if you drink the coffee without knowing that it is poisoned, but that once you do know it is poisoned, your condition resulting from ‘deliberately’ drinking the bad brew becomes your causal and moral responsibility. I may remain responsible for ruining your morning coffee, indeed your entire morning, but I am not responsible for the result should you decide to drink it.