Responsibility for Character Traits - A Character-Centered Framework of Moral Responsibility - Inaugural Dissertation

Aug 26, 2026

This inaugural dissertation develops a character-centered framework for moral responsibility, focusing on how character traits ground judgments of responsibility. It motivates the significance of character and surveys theoretical developments, then formulates a research question and scope that guide the analysis. The work clarifies key concepts through a detailed account of trait classification, dispositions, and competing views on character and moral responsibility, culminating in applying the theories to test their explanatory power.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages217

Reading Time9 h 7 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

The Importance of Character (Responsibility)

Theoretical Developments

Research Question and Scope

Chapter Overview and Theses

I The Concept of Character

Character Trait Classification

Character Traits as Manifesting Dispositions

Conclusion

II Theories of Character

Global Traits

Local Traits

Mixed Traits

Conclusion

III Theories of Moral Responsibility

Volitionism

Attributionism

Capacitarianism

Conclusion

IV Putting the Theories to Test

The Two Forms of Responsibil

Responsibility for Character Traits - A Character-Centered Framework of Moral Responsibility Inaugural‐Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades der Philosophie der Ludwig‐Maximilians‐Universität München vorgelegt von Susanne Schlee aus Bamberg Erstgutachter: Prof. Dr. Christof Rapp Zweitgutachter: Prof. Dr. Erasmus Mayr Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 25.05.2023 Acknowledgements I would like to take the opportunity to thank my supervisors Christof Rapp and Erasmus Mayr for enriching this thesis with your advice and guidance throughout the last years. Your feedback has helped tremendously in shaping this thesis. Furthermore, I owe thanks to Laura Valentini for sharing your ideas and agreeing to be part of the examination committee. Thanks is also due to Philipp Brüllmann for taking on the role as mentor and providing me feedback and motivation. I would also like to express my gratitude to George Sher, who has been so kind as to discuss early parts of this project with me over Zoom. Thank you also to Monika Betzler for allowing me to be part of the Munich School for Ethics in Practice. The group discussions and shared experience have helped tremendously in staying on track. Lastly, I want to say thank you to my family and friends, who have given me the support and love one needs for such a project. Contents Introduction............................................................................................................... 1 1. The Importance of Character (Responsibility) .............................................. 1 2. Theoretical Developments ............................................................................... 5 3. Research Question and Scope.......................................................................... 9 4. Chapter Overview and Theses ...................................................................... 13 I The Concept of Character................................................................................... 21 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................... 21 2. Character Trait Classification ........................................................................ 25 2.1 The Identity and the Dichotomy View............................................... 25 2.2 An Alternative Classification............................................................... 28 2.2.1 Character Traits as a Kind of Personality Trait....................... 28 2.2.2 Moral and Non-Moral Character Traits ................................... 33 3. Character Traits as Manifesting Dispositions ............................................. 37 3.1 The Dispositional View and the Problem of Manifestation ............ 37 3.2 The Summary View............................................................................... 43 3.3 Manifesting Dispositions...................................................................... 45 4. Conclusion........................................................................................................ 47 II Theories of Character ........................................................................................ 49 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................... 49 2. Global Traits ..................................................................................................... 51 2.1 Globalism and (Folk) Psychological Conceptions ............................ 51 2.2 Virtue Ethics and Global Traits ........................................................... 52 3. Local Traits ....................................................................................................... 55 3.1 Situationism: The Doubt about Cross-Situational Consistency...... 55 3.2 Locally Specified Character Traits ...................................................... 60 4. Mixed Traits ...

FAQs

What is the central topic of the dissertation?

The dissertation investigates moral responsibility in relation to character traits, proposing a character-centered framework that explains how traits support responsibility judgments.

How does the dissertation treat character traits?

It provides a structured account of character trait classification and analyzes character traits as manifesting dispositions, contrasting different views of how traits operate.

Which theories of moral responsibility are examined?

The dissertation surveys volitionism, attributionism, and capacitarianism, including their internal sub-accounts and how they relate to responsibility.

Aug 26, 2026

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