The Nature and Moral Status of Manipulation

Authors

BĚLOHRAD Radim

Year of publication 2019
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Acta Analytica
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Arts

Citation
Web http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12136-019-00407-y
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12136-019-00407-y
Keywords deception; intention; manipulation; ulterior motive
Description The paper focuses on the nature and moral status of manipulation. I analyse a popular account of manipulation by Robert Noggle and assess a challenge that has been posed by Moti Gorin. I argue that Noggle’s theory can fend off the challenge. The analysis is instructive in that it enables one to look more closely at the nature of manipulation. I argue, contrary to some proposed accounts, that manipulation essentially involves deception about the manipulator’s intentions. Secondly, since manipulation contains an element of deception, it is, I maintain, prima facie immoral. Finally, I analyse and explain away several examples of allegedly morally non-problematic manipulation.
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