AbstractWhy, if at all, does it make sense to assign some responsibilities to states rather than to individuals? There are two contemporary answers. According to the agential theory, states can be held responsible because they are moral agents, much like human beings. According to the functional theory, states can be held responsible because they are legal persons that act vicariously through individuals, much like principals who act through agents. The two theories of state responsibility belong to parallel traditions of scholarship that have never been clearly distinguished. While the agential theory is dominant in IR, political theory, and philosophy, the functional theory prevails in International Law. The purpose of this article is to bridge the gulf between ethical and legal approaches to state responsibility. I argue that IR scholars and political theorists have much to gain from the functional theory. 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When you are using another moral agent as a mere means you are violating the?moral theories, actions are the focus because the act, not the consequence, is what determines right and wrong. When you are using another moral agent as a mere means, you are violating the principle.
Which of the following philosophers does not agree that there such a thing as human nature?Criticism of the concept of human nature (Hull)
Philosopher of science David L. Hull has influentially argued that there is no such thing as human nature.
Which of the following people is the best example of an autonomous moral agent?Which of the following people is the best example of an autonomous moral agent? Hyun, who looks to reason for moral guidance.
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