This paper provides a philosophical understanding of state apologies by applying Gewirth's deontological theory. Through application of the principle of generic consistency, I contend that a state apology can be understood as a moral obligation concurrent with human rights. Subsequently, I attempt to solidify the Gewirthian understanding of state apology by integrating current understandings of the practice into the Gewirthian model of the community of rights. Here, I also suggest that the psychosocial biography of the community of rights strengthens the Gewirthian interpretation of state apology. Finally, I examine the merits of the U.S. apology for the Tuskegee Syphilis Study from this Gewirthian perspective. Ultimately, I conclude that the Gewirthian application is successful in its ability to clarify the reasons for which state apologies are given, as well as the goals they should accomplish.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uottawa.ca/oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/28883 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Kekewich, Michael |
| Publisher | University of Ottawa (Canada) |
| Source Sets | Université d’Ottawa |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 104 p. |
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